After the first night at sea Isabelle Joschke – one of the race favourites – is leading the 16th Transat 6.50 (Mini Transat) see previous yachtingworld.com news story here. 

Joschke is one of the top ranked competitors in this year’s 89-strong fleet and is racing a brand-new Proto, Finot design which features a rotating and canting mast, canting keel, daggerboards and water-ballast. The boat was completed in January and has already proved herself in some of the big events leading up to the this race including wins in the Mini Pavois and the Select, plus a second in the Trophy Marie-Agnes Péron and a third in the recent grueling 550-mile Transgascogne Race in which six boats rolled and dismasted.

Currently in second place is Peter Laureyssens sailing Proto Ecover while Sam Manuard (sailing another brand-new boat) see previous yachtingworld.com news story here, is just a couple of miles behind in third.

Adrien Hardy who led the fleet of the La Rochelle start line yesterday is now in 10th – about 14 miles astern of the leaders. The British contingent – David Rawlinson and Andrew Wood – are lying in 25th and 55th respectively.

There was a bit of trouble yesterday for one of the Slovenian entries, Andraz, Mihelin on Adria Mobil who managed to collide with the one of the press boats soon after the start which was apparently too close to the restricted area. Apparently Hajn?ek now has a crack in his bow but says he has enough material to carry out the repair.