After a promising first solo leg of “Les Sables-Les Azores-Les Sables”, Ireland's Thomas Dolan, or l’irlandais Volant”, or the Flying Irishman, as he has been christened by French media, currently stands in second place with 1 hour and 35 minutes of a gap between himself and France’s Tanguy Bouroullec, who dominated the first 1200 miles of racing.

After crossing Biscay in relatively light winds, the fleet of 22 mini 650’s had an intense three days of reaching in 20 to 25 knots of wind. This allowed them to hastily tuck into the 800-mile offshore leg from the north of Spain to the Azores Archipelago. Most of the routings at the start had tended to favor a southern route, skipping along the edges of a ridge of high pressure which stretched across the Bay of Biscay. However, things rarely being as they are announced in ocean racing and the Azores High began to move westerly with the competitors, opening up a corridor or Northerly wind along the rhumb line.

The mini class prides itself in being ‘low-tech’. Thus the only weather forecasting available to the skippers once they are at sea is a barometer, the clouds and a Shortwave radio transmission once per day. Dolan ended up taking a rather mediocre route, not too south and not too north and was in 6th place as the fleet arrived in the Islands. As the fleet compacted into the high pressure zone, it was almost like a second start. 24 hours of close contact tacking and the Meath man had managed to come out in second, having cut Bouroullec’s lead from 20 to 7 miles.

Having experienced problems with his generator, Dolan had to run a number of nights without use of the autopilot and even navigation lights. It was only when the sun rose and the solar panels kicked in that he could rest and recharge both his and the boat’s batteries. “At one stage I looked at the GPS and saw 750 miles to go and though it’s impossible I’ll have to turn around and pull into a Spanish port….” But he held out and even though there is less than 15 minutes between Dolan and the sixth place boat he remains hopeful of an overall podium finish.

The second leg leaves on Tuesday at 1700 Irish Time. There will be a complex ridge of high pressure too cross in search of a weak cold front which will sweep across the Bay of Biscay. Some of the routings even send the fleet as far north as the Fastnet Rock! So it is certain that the game is long from over.

For many Afloat.ie readers, he was just a silhouetted figure sitting atop a boat waiting to be rescued when Afloat.ie published the story about a solo sailor's rescue off the Wexford coast. Like so many rescue video clips, there was little detail on what had caused the boat to capsize but French skipper Jean Conchaudron's subsequent thank you comment on Afloat.ie to the Irish rescue services shed a lot more light on his remarkable rescue from the Irish Sea.

Conchaudron was voyaging from Newlin, Cornwall to Dublin. His goal was to meet a friend who was coming to Dublin from Iceland. After a few days holidaying in Dublin they would come back with the two boats to Brittany (Perros Guirec).

Jean Conchaudron's Mini 6.50 in happier times

But as we now know, none of this ever happened. As a result of 'mechanical failure' Conchaudron's keel fell off and he was capsized in seconds.

'Conditions were quite good, I was on deck, wind was about 15 knots, some swell. The boat capsized in about five seconds'.

'I had my PLB in my trousers, and my life jacket on. I triggered the PLB I have in my pocket. It then took to me about half an hour to be able to make a web of ropes to climb on to the hull, I was pushed up and down by the waves, and it took me a while to secure myself with the rope (the web of rope can be seen on the video). It was not possible to start my boat beacon because it was in the cabin and not accessible.

'I then waited to be rescued. The Rescue 117 Helicopter from Waterford saved me and I spent four days in Waterford Regional Hospital due to hypothermia. Thanks to the Irish recsue services, these guys are heroes'.

Conchaudron says he loves Mini 6.50 type sailing and prefers sailing alone. Despite what happened off Wexford, he believes his boat is 'very safe' and well equipped, as are all the boats of this class with a radio beacon and other safety measures. He participated in the "Mini Transat" in 1987, and other races in France. 

Jean Conchaudron's all important lifejacket signed by his rescuers

As far as he knows, the boat is still adrift in the Irish Sea. Conchaudron says the Coastguard is 'keeping an eye on it.' It is his intention to try to get it back, depending on what his insurers say.

'I hope this experience will help other sailors', he wrote on the Rescue 117 Facebook page.

Conchaudron says he has learned an important lesson from the experience and wants to pass it on to other sailors in the hope that it can save other lives at sea: 'Have a PLB in your trousers's pocket, wear your life–jacket, stay afloat, don't sleep and be a warrior to survive'.

As Ireland's Thomas Dolan continues to make his way to the finish line, Frédéric Denis, from La Trinité in Brittany, France, has won the Mini Transat after crossing the finish line off the Iles de Guadeloupe first, at 09:12:30 GMT (05:12:30 local time in Point-à-Pitre) on Friday November 13.

After his third place finish on the first stage to Lanzarote, Denis was six minutes behind Axel Tréhin (Aleph Racing), but with his closest rivals trailing by over 50 miles, he was a clear winner as he crossed the finish line in Guadeloupe.

Denis’s average boat speed over the theoretical distance was 9.04 knots. Nautipark covered an actual total of 3,230.79 miles on the water, more than 455 miles more than the theoretical distance, and sailed at an average 10.52 knots.

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

It's almost certain that trade winds should accompany the Ireland's Thomas Dolan and the Mini Transat fleet right up until their arrival in Pointe-a-Pitre. There is no longer much difference in speeds between north and south, and everyone is moving at a good pace towards the finish line. Dolan remains a consistent 21st in his 44th boat fleet.

In the prototypes, Frederic Denis (Nautipark) holds the lead, while in the series boats, Julien Pulve (Novintiss) comes up, for the first time in the race, to snatch the lead position from Ian Lipinski (Entreprises Innovantes). On the other side of the Atlantic, Francois Jambou (Concevoir et Construire) has started off again.

For the first time since the start, the men in the north have reached speeds that can compete with those on the southern route. Chris Lükerman (CA Technologies) finally went above 10 knots.

Positions on 8th November at 15 :00pm (TU+1)

Prototypes
1. Frederic Denis, Nautipark, 993.6 nm from finish
2. Ludovic Mechin, Microvitae, 34.0 nm to leader
3. Axel Trehin, Aleph Racing, 38.6
4. Clement Bouyssou, Le Bon Agent 0 Bougeons l'Immobilier, 43.1
5. Michele Zambelli, Illumia, 47.3

Series
1. Julien Pulve, Novintiss, 1149.9 miles from the finish line
2. Ian Lipinski, Entreprises Innovantes, 2.2 nm to leader
3. Tanguy Le Turquais, Terreal, 81.1
4. Edouard Golbery, Les Enfants du Canal, 83
5. Edwin Thibon, Coeur Fidele, 98.1

Turning west, like most of the fleet, Ireland's debutante entry in the Mini Transat lies in 24th place this morning with a daunting Atlantic crossing ahead of him. County Meath's Thomas Dolan is in a mid–fleet position in his 44–boat fleet and keen to repeat his first stage top twenty performance. 

Lying 24th in his fleet, Dolan's position is marked in red

Following the retirement of Davy Beaudart, it is Radek Kowalczyk's turn to throw in the towel after having to abandon his brand new Calbud.

It is a harsh blow for the Polish sailor. Radek was innovative in his concept of having the prototype be built in series, hoping to encourage new vocations and inspire sailors of less fortunate means to dive into the prototype experience, allowing each to fix and fiddle with his own boat from a common basis.

In 2011, Radek completed his first participation in the Mini Transat, on an old prototype, fired by the promise of returning on a much more powerful boat. He had to wait until 2015 to fulfil his dreams, but the adventure will not see completion. The Mini Transat Iles de Guadeloupe loses a particularly endearing, unassuming sailor.

As expected, the fleet has started to turn west before reaching the Cape Verde archipelago. However, the skippers are facing a true dilemma. The wind is still stronger in the south and everyone is confronted by the same question: how far are they going to lengthen the route?

Ranking 3rd November at 18h (TU+1)

Prototypes (Ranking Eurovia Cegelec)
1. Frederic Denis, Nautipark, 2195 nm to finish
2. Jean-Baptiste Daramy, Chocolats Paries, 41 nm to leader
3. Michele Zambelli, Illumia, 48
4. Ludovic Mechin, Microvitae, 53
5. Clement Bouyssou, Le Bon Agent - Bougeons l'Immobilier, 56

Series (Ranking Ocean Bio-Actif)
1. Ian Lipinski, Entreprises Innovantes, 2257 nm to finish
2. Benoit Hantzperg, YCA Dhumeaux Secours Populaire, 7 nm to leader
3. Julien Pulve, Novintiss, 8
4. Tanguy Le Turquais, Terreal, 45
5. Dimitri Simons, Teamsolo.nl, 54

County Meath solo sailor Thomas Dolan lies in 27th place from 44 starters in the early stages of the Mini–Transat race sailing tonight off the Mauritanian coast. It's a drop of some 17 places from this morning's tenth place for Dolan but still very early days in this transatlantic race with the fleet still bunched together after the weekend start.

A sustained wind, getting their bearings on board after a three-week stopover, a chaotic sea… conditions were favourable for some minor breakages for the fleet. Many solo racers have already planned a pit stop. Favourites as candidates for adventure, not everyone reacts the same way: the key is mental stamina coupled with the ambitions that everyone has for this race.

It is kind of recurrent law: as long as the conditions are a bit tough, each race start (or leg start for the Mini Transat îles de Guadeloupe) results in minor breakage. When in the middle of the Atlantic, the question of choice does not arise, but the situation changes when a stopover becomes possible. The first of the competitors to return to shore was Frederick port Mesel (Double Trouble), who headed back to Arrecife seriously doubtful about the interest in continuing after breaking one of his rudders. The enthusiasm of his relatives and the encouragement of his buddies who stayed in Lanzarote convinced him to set off again with a brand new morale.

Scheduled turnarounds… or not
Others have diverted to Fuerteventura, such as Davy Beaudart (Flexirub), who suffered a tear in his medium spinnaker, and Nacho Postigo (Vamos Vamos), a broken rudder. For Davy, it is a harsh blow. The Lorient skipper has been forced to retire due its technical issues. Nacho Postigo, for his part, has really been biting the bullet. The string of setbacks he has overcome since the start of the race, have made him a touch philosophical. They will both announce their intentions to the race direction in the coming hours.

For some, misfortune persists. Maxime Eveillard (Heli Strategy) tore his mainsail on the first night and plans on doing a stopover in on one of the Canary Islands. Yann Claverie (MAP Product) is also en route to Gran Canaria. Others chose not to be daunted by the events and decided to forge ahead, even handicapped. Roland Ventura (Fondation Planiol), despite a loose gooseneck and a torn 5 code, has chosen to continue his race. He will be repairing it on the Atlantic. This is also what Pierre-Marie Bazin (Voiles des Anges) decided. With a broken push rod, damaged tiller, he decided to carry on to deliver to his boat across the Atlantic. When one is an agent of a humanitarian project as strong as his, it is a kind of moral duty not to give up the fight.

Battle on the route south
Ahead of the fleet, the leaders continue to push hard along the Mauritanian coast. The wind eased a little and averages drop in the beginning of night. They are closer to 10 knots than the 15-16 knots prevailing at the start. On a southerly route, Benedict Hantzperg (YCA Dhumeaux Secours Populaire) is still leading the way, while some racers already seem to be reassessing their route along the great circle, like Olivier Taillard (Alternative Sailing - Kerhis) or the Russian Yuri Firsov (Magnum Sports), aiming for the podium of the series boats.

In prototype, there is close competition between Clément Bouyssou (Le Bon Agent – Bougeons l’Immobilier), Frédéric Denis (Nautipark), Simon Koster (Eight Cube), Ludovic Méchin (Microvitae) and Luke Berry (Association Rêves). Davy Beaudart’s pit stop inevitably has inevitably whetted the appetites.

After the 20-25 knots during the night, the trade wind dropped to 12 knots, accompanied by sunny skies. Dream conditions, just like we read about in tales of travels... The Mini Transat îles de Guadeloupe clearly has many dreams yet to offer to its contenders.

The Mini Transat Îles de Guadeloupe competitors – including Ireland's Thomas Dolan – set off to conquer the Atlantic Ocean yesterday with a sustained northeasterly wind and rough seas.

'The red rocket and I will head off for what will be the biggest adventure of our lives' wrote debutante Dolan on social media prior to his departure.

The County Meath sailor will sail just over 2500 miles completely alone except for the 60 odd fellow competitors who, he says, over the last few months have become 'more of a family than anything'. 

Most of the skippers have preferred to play it safe, given the weather conditions (wind of 25 knots on average) and the fact that the boats were loaded to cross the Atlantic. On the pontoons prior to the start, the emotion was palpable.

The last minutes ashore are never simple for solo sailors. All are split between the desire to start racing as quickly as possible and the mixture of apprehension and slight guilt for leaving loved ones ashore. Modest or expansive, each in their own way was trying to dispel the difficulty of the moment in order to concentrate on the race.

Jean-Baptiste Daramy (Chocolates Paries):
'It feels good to leave, I could not wait. I don’t know yet what sail I'm going to put up, we will have to be careful for the first few hours of the race'.

Vincent Grison (Roll My Chicken):
'I looked on the Transat Jacques Vabre website, it is likely we cross paths with the Class40. It would be fun that I meet Sam Manuard who is the architect of my boat, we would have something to chat about on the Atlantic'.

Ian Lipinski (Entreprises Innovantes):
'I'm fine, I feel good. I have some leeway, which should allow me to make a cautious start. One thing is for sure - if some of the competitors start the race in top gear, I won’t take the risk to follow and suffer breakage'.

Davy Beaudart (Flexirub):
“Things are good, everything is ready. Naturally there is a little more tension, because crossing the Atlantic is no small matter. I will especially try to sail properly, which is the best way to enjoy oneself”.

Victor Turpin (Generations Ocean):
'I am still a little stressed, it must show on my face. But I cannot wait to go. It is going to be pretty windy for the first few days and we know we have to leave quickly, because the others are going to leave quickly. What to do - rush in or safeguard the boat? We will see'.

Nikki Curwen (Go Ape! Live Life Adventurously):
'I am a little stressed but excited at the prospect of crossing the Atlantic. I have been dreaming about it for three years... '

Yury Firsov (Magnum Sport):
'I feel good, I am ready to go. The weather is good; everything is ready. I am heading south like everyone else before heading west'.

Chris Lukerman (Ca Technologies):
'I am ok. I am a little nervous because of the wind, which is strong for the first hours of the race. But it really is time to go. We will be able to glide along as we had hoped”.

Jan Heinze (Lonestar):
'I am happy to leave after all these days spent ashore and the number of years to prepare this project. I am proud to be here. My father and my coach are here, but the rest of my family will be at the finish in Guadeloupe'.

Ireland's Thomas Dolan arrived into Lanzarote this morning taking a top twenty position in his 44–boat fleet, a very credible finish for the County Meath solo sailor in the first leg of his first Mini–Transat.

The pontoon reserved for the Mini Transat iles de Guadeloupe in Lanzarote is gradually filling up. The prototypes have taken up most of the spaces, with only two series boats arriving into port so far.

ARRIVAL: the Irish skipper Tom Dolan has crossed the finish line at 4h12'00" TU+2 !! Bravo Tom! Well done! #MiniTransat2015

— Mini Transat (@MiniTransat2015) September 28, 2015

Although quarter of the fleet had arrived in Lanzarote, the battle was still fierce amongst those in the series boats for the best finishing positions (and this was the majority of sailors still at sea)

For all the competitors, these are the last hours at sea, the blessed hours, according to the conversations that some have been able to have with the National marine patrol boat, the PSP Flamant. When he was barely in sight of the coast of the Canaries, Armand de Jacquelot said that he couldn't wait to take off again on the second stage on 31st October.

First five to finish:

Prototypes ( Eurovia Cegelec class):
1. Davy Beaudart - Flexirub
2. Axel Trehin - Aleph Racing
3. Frederic Denis - Nautipark
4. Luke Berry, Association Reves
5. Ludovic Mechin, Microvitae

Series (Ocean Bio-Actif class)
1. Ian Lipinski, Entreprise Innovantes
2. Tanguy Le Turquais, Terreal
3. Charly Fernbach, Henaff le Fauffiffon
4. Julien Pulve, Novintiss
5. Patrick Girod, Nescens

Steady overnight sailing off the coast of Portugal from rookie Thomas Dolan sees the sole Irish entry in the Mini–Transat race stay in the top 20 overall. The County Meath sailor who features in this morning's Irish Times Sailing Column is currently in 19th place, dropping back one place.

Davy Beaudart (Flexirub) and Ian Lipinski (Entreprises Innovantes) had been tipped as race favourites. To date, they have not proved the predictions wrong.

Several competitors have now joined the walking wounded from the first stage. Fidel Turienzo (Satanas) is getting ready to stop in to one of the ports on the Portuguese coast between Sines and Lisbon to repair his damaged mast. Guillermo Canardo (Peor Para El Sol) should also stop in Porto. Some of the other competitiors are still holed up in ports, such as Pilar Pasanau (Peter Punk) in La Coruna, Jonas Gerckens(Netwerk) in Peniche and Aymeric Blin (Le Marin des Alpes) in Sada.

Some of the competitors are doing well, Despite their lack of experience : Edouard Golbery (Les Enfants du Canal) and Mathieu Bourdais (Tous au Large) who are racing in the Series class, both with very little Mini Circuit racing under their belts, currently lie in 9th and 10th place respectively in the provisional standings. 

In other Irish offshore solo sailing news, Lough Swilly skipper Sean McCarter has launched a 2020 bid for the Vendee Globe Race 

Top Five Positions on 24 th September at 18 :00 (TU+2) :

Prototypes ( Eurovia Cegelec class) :
1. Davy Beaudart, Flexirub, 353,7 miles to leg finish
2. Frederic Denis, Nautipark, 48.7 nm to leader
3. Axel Trehin, Aleph Racing, 50.0 nm
4. Ludovic Mechin, Microvitae, 54.0 nm
5. Luke Berry, Association Rêves, 54.6 nm

Series ( Ocean Bio-Actif class)
1. Ian Lipinski, Entreprises Innovantes, 439.0 milles to leg finish
2. Tanguy Le Turquais, Terreal, 19.2 nm to leader
3. Julien Pulve, Novintiss, 38.2 nm
4. Charly Fernbach, Henaff le Fauffiffon, 41.8 nm
5. Patrick Girod, Nescens, 50,.9 nm