Early July,  we had a little report about the Mini Fasnet. The Mini Fasnet is a 500nm double handed race. Due to strong winds up to Fastnet Rock, the Race Committee sent the racers south to the BAX buoy and back. The first 7 series Mini were all Pogo 2s with the first three boats finishing a minute 20 from each other! Thanks to FRA 472 with Xavier Macaire and Kan Chuck, follow the 3 boats sprinting to the finish.

Wind is well established with 30 knots, gusting 35 knots. Boat speed is up in 16 knots + and after 500 miles, you can see during the video the 2 other boats chasing. As Kan looks around with the camera on his head, you can see Benoit Mariette and Grégoire Mouly chasing them a little bit to windward. The 2 racers aboard FRA 472 congratulates themselves on the choice of sails as they seem to keep the boat under control in the puffs – “rafales” as Xavier, trimming spinnaker tells Kan when the puffs come in. Within the last minute of the video, a consistent puff hits the area. FRA 472 gets on a full plane (less water splashing on the boat) and accelerates. The boat rounds up with too much pressure on the sails and as Kan looks around, you’ll see Davy Beaudart and Nicolas Bunoust on Innovea Environnement (all black sails), on its side also after what looks to be a pretty tough round up!!

Amazing video! Thanks a lot to Xavier and Kan for this!!

Open Sailing will be in La Rochelle this week to wish good luck to all the racers who are leaving on the 25th for the Mini Transat. Keep in touch for more news!!