Competitors taking part in the 1,000-miles Class 40 Brittany Ferries race which commenced on Sunday (26 August) from St Malo, completed their first leg to Plymouth early yesterday morning.

According to Cecile Poujol who finished in fourth place, the Channel crossing went smoothly albeit fairly slow. The wind was light from the north-east but it stabilised at around 15kts “The conditions of this crossing were really very pleasant.”

The first boat to cross the Plymouth finish line morning was Domenica Vittet sailingAtao Audio Systemat 05.49.23. But so close was the racing, second-placed competitor – Damien Grimont onChocolats Monbanafollowed just two minutes behind.

The racing rules stipulate that competitors must spend a minimum of six hours in port before setting off in the second leg to Santander – a distance of 430 miles.

Results (arrival times in Plymouth)

1st Dominique Vittet – Atao Audio System – arrived on Monday at 5h 49min 32s
2nd Damien Grimont – Chocolats Monbana – 1min 57sec behind the leader
3rd Peter Harding – 40 Degrees – 15min 24sec
4th Cecile Poujol – Merci les amis – 23min 11sec
5th Yvan Noblet – Appart City – 26min 35sec
6th Benoit Parnaudeau – Jardin Bio Prevoir- 35min 27sec
7th Eric Galmard – Dimension Spa – 42min 6sec
8th Jean-Edouard Criquioche – Choice Hotels – 1h 3min 40sec