Mini Transat sailors were breathing a sigh of relief yesterday when a north-easterly wind finally filled in allowing them to make better headway down the coast of Portugal reaching average speeds of more than seven knots.

Although positions are swapping and changing constantly at the top end of the fleet Jonathan McKee (247-Team Mc Lube) currently retains a eight-mile lead over Sam Manuard (431-Tip Top Too- Le Grau du Roi-Port Camargue) in the prototype fleet.

In the Series fleet (production boats) Erwan Tymen (426-Pogo 2 Navy Lest) is ahead of David Sineau (428-France Fermerures).

Arthur Barret (29-Ubage) who’s been suffering with a damaged spreader is now heading slowly towards Lanzarote where he’s hoping to carry out repairs before the start of the next leg. David Lancry (121-Mensura Frost) is also is also limping along with mast problems but is hoping that his new mast will arrive in Lanzarote to allow him to continue the race.

Richard Merigeaux (260-Bon Pied Bon Oeil) who damaged the top of his mast at the start, had to return to La Rochelle and started the race 20 hours behind the main group improved on his 28th position yesterday and is now in a creditable 24th overall.

Overnight James Bird, the young British sailor, has dropped a place to 52nd overall while fellow British sailor Ian Munslow in his Owen design proto has climbed up to 22 overall. If the current conditions hold the leading boats should start arriving in Lanzarote on Friday.

Positions (at 0700 15 September)

1 431 Samuel Manuard TIP TOP TOO – LE GRAU DU ROI PORT CAMARGUE proto

2 247 Jonathan McKee TEAM MC LUBE proto

3 151 Armel Tripon MOULIN ROTY proto

4 393 Cian Mc Carthy THE TOM CREAN proto

5 312 Pascal Doin ASNQ proto

6 316 Pia L’Obry EXPATRIA.FR proto

7 321 Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty ARTECH – CAEN LA MER proto

8 139 François Cuinet REGLISSE proto

9 265 Frédéric Duthil ALL MER proto

10 240 Alex Pella AQUATEC – SANTIVERI – TEXKNIT proto

11 354 Bruno Garcia SALADINO proto

12 426 Erwan Tymen POGO 2 NAVY LEST serie

13 428 David Sineau FRANCE FERMETURES serie

14 353 Willy Garcia CEYLAN DIAMANTES proto

15 347 Pierre Rolland EXTRADO proto

16 227 Donald Wright RUSSE NOIR proto

17 440 David Raison RAYON LIQUIDE serie

18 303 Enrico Podesta DIABOLO-SLAM proto

19 250 Brieuc Maisoneuve PAYS GRANVILLAIS serie

20 135 Stéphane Ayrault WYETH proto