Yannick Lemonnier's 'Port of Galway' Prepares for MiniTransat 2021 Second Stage on Friday with 87 Boats Still in the Race

28th October 2021

Yannick Lemonnier in Palma in the Canaries after finishing the first stage of the Eurochef Minitransat 2021

Despite being battered by storms and whales off northwest Spain, 87 boats of the originally 90-strong fleet which started from France in the Eurochef Minitransat 2021 completed the first stage to La Palma in the Canary Islands. There, life was going on as best it could despite the local volcano erupting, completely covering all in-harbour finishers with black ash. Franco-Irish sailmaker Yannick Lemonnier, racing Port of Galway, took 16th place in the Proto Class, and will be hoping to improve on that when the fleet resumes racing tomorrow (Friday) for the big one, the Transatlantic hop to the Caribbean.

However, hopes of record times are fading as the northeast trade winds have been slow to fill in with any significant strength. Thus the fleet may have to shape their course well to the south in anticipation of finding stronger breezes. Best times of 14 to 16 days are anticipated for the leaders

Published in Solo Sailing, Galway Harbour

Published in Solo Sailing

Tagged under

MiniTransat

About The Author

WM Nixon

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William M Nixon has been writing about sailing in Ireland for many years in print and online, and his work has appeared internationally in magazines and books. His own experience ranges from club sailing to international offshore events, and he has cruised extensively under sail, often in his own boats which have ranged in size from an 11ft dinghy to a 35ft cruiser-racer. He has also been involved in the administration of several sailing organisations.

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