South West international yachtsman Alex Bennett, has finished second in the 350 mile Mini Cup Race along the English Channel from Dieppe to Douarnenez which saw 20 of the top boats in the mini fleet competing.

Bennett lead the fleet from the start and was first boat to the windward mark and lead the fleet out of the Bay of Dieppe closely followed by Nick Bubb on Kenmore Homes.

In a very tactical race sailing upwind all the way to the finish, Bennett decided to take the no sleep option and with the help of the new Raymarine pilot upgrades he stayed on deck for the three days with no sleep. – such is the competition in the mini fleet.

Alex said on his arrival in Douarnenez, “What an awesome race. This event was always going to be very hard and tactical. There are so many tidal gates as well as the worries of shipping in the English Channel, not to mention the competition which is first class. I am so pleased with our speed on Fujifilm. All the hard work over the winter is starting to pay off now as we were very competitive especially in the light airs.

“We will be making a few adjustments to our downwind sail area for the next race and then I think we shall be in a very strong position. Right now though I am so shattered I just need some sleep. “

Fujifilm rounded the first mark of the course , CH1 off Cherbourg, on Sunday night in second place a little over one boat length in front of Kenmore, Vector Plus and another mini. It was all to play for with tough tactical tacking duels at two in the morning going through the Alderney Race . Bennet finished second behind Frenchman Erwin le Roux.

The next event of the calendar is the mini Fastnet starting from Douarnenez on 12 June 2004 when over 70 boats expected to compete in the 600 mile race to Fastnet rock off South West Ireland and back.