Thomas Dolan Nears Finish Line in First Mini-Transat Race

13th November 2015

Thomas Dolan (in red) is on course for his first finish in the Mini Transat this weekend

With a mere 700–miles to go (equivalent to a Round Ireland race) Irish solo sailor Thomas Dolan nears landfall in his first Mini-Transat race. Consistent sailing from the County Meath debutante has seen him maintain his mid rank position in a high calibre 43–boat fleet. Leaders are expected into Iles De Guadeloupe within 24 hours and Dolan will not be too far behind. He is currently in 23rd place and has at times been as high as 17th in the transatlantic crossing. The consistent performance so far matches his top twenty placing in the first leg of the race into the Canary Islands a month ago.

For the leaders of the Mini Transat Iles De Guadeloupe, something has changed. The best part of the race lies in their wake and the land is getting imperceptibly closer. The horizon and the sky are filling with colour, while the trade winds are slowing down. With some of the prototypes just 24 hours away from the finish line, the battle is still going strong: the clear leader, Frederic Denis (Nautipark), has slowed down as the winds ease off. In his wake, they are attacking from all sides.

In the production boats, the battle between Ian Lipinski (Entreprises Innovantes) and Julien Pulve (Novintiss) is over: one went south, the other went north ... following different paths.

These are the last hours of the race. The very first competitors will enjoy their last sunrise on this Mini Transat Iles de Guadeloupe. For those chasing Frederic Denis (Nautipark) at the head of the fleet of prototypes for almost 10 days (over 11 days of racing), it's their last chance Thursday.

Ranking on 12th November at 15:00 (TU+1):

Series
1. Julien Pulve, Novintiss: 403 nm to finish
2. Ian Lipinski, Entreprises Innovantes, 2.3 nm to leader
3. Tanguy Le Turquais, Terreal, 83.8
4. Edouard Golbery, Les Enfants du Canal, 129.1
5. Armand de Jacquelot, We Van, 145.5

Prototypes
1. Frederic Denis, Nautipark, 142.1 nm to finish
2. Michele Zambelli, Illumia, 53.7 nm to leader
3. Luke Berry, Association Rêves, 68.5
4. Clement Bouyssou, Le Bon Agent - Bougeons l'Immobilier, 90.7
5. Axel Trehin, Aleph Racing, 109.9

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