Relief on the third night as a gentle north-east wind gives skippers much needed rest and a chance to take stock.

So far 20 out of the 68 sailors who set off on the second leg of the Mini Transat from Lanzarote to Salvador de Bahia have encountered some kind of problem.

The most recent casualty is Arthur Barret (29 Ubaye). Not exactly lucky in the first leg, he has continued the run of ill-fortune by breaking his spinnaker halyard. Barret doesn’t want to risk climbing the mast in a lively seaway. He is headed towards Sao Vicente in the Cap Verdes to get it fixed.

Thomas Valentin (185 Thomas Hawk) and Barnabé Chivot (335 FTH Thirard) also have worries with their boats. For Barnabé, who has already had to stop in the first hours of the race to sort out problems with his boom, the start of the second leg has been no picnic either. Laurent Jaunin (329 Terre-et-Faune.org) has an electrical problem and Christophe Dary (373 Saga) has had various mechanical problems that he has been able to repair.

Despite all this Armel Tripon (151 Moulin Roty) has held the lead since Puerto Calero, maintaining around 9 knots, with Jonathan Mc Kee (247 Team McLube) just 11 miles behind.

Positions 30 September 0700 (UT)
1 151 Armel Tripon Moulin Roty
2 247 Jonathan Mc Kee Team McLube
3 139 François Cuinet Reglisse
4 347 Pierre Rolland Extrado
5 431 Samuel Manuard Tip Top Too