Les Sables-Azores-Les Sables: The miniists are off!: Horta is the stage finish: Lisa Berger for Austria in the race

The Minis started their classic Les Sables-Azores-Les Sables race this week. A total of 72 solo sailors responded to the call of the two-part race: twelve in the proto classification and 60 in the series classification. The scenario is typical: on the third day at sea, the field splits at Cape Finisterre on the way to the north-western tip of Spain. Since Wednesday, the fleet has been driven by north-westerly winds of 15 to 20 knots.

On the morning of the third day at sea, the route choices began to diverge as expected. Some competitors, including Proto leader Pierre Le Roy on "Teamwork", opted for the southerly course in order to pass between the coast and the traffic separation area of Cape Finisterre. Others, such as Jacques Delcroix ("Actual"), who was initially in second place, and the majority of the field favoured the outer course.

"Those who are sailing on the inside can expect winds of up to 35 knots. The pressure will increase quickly for them. The others will have a little less wind, but also a little less swell. It will be less tough for them," said Christian Dumard, the race's weather consultant. It seems certain that everyone will continue sailing at speeds of between eight and 14 knots over the next 48 hours.

Over the next two days, it will not only be a question of carefully balancing speed and safety in the most profitable way possible for the miniists. They will also have to make a strategic decision in order to make the best possible passage through a high-pressure axis sinking southwards, which could block their path on Saturday. While the Cape Finisterre passage will tend to divide the fleet, it is very likely that many boats will move closer together again towards the end of the week. At the same time, successful breakaways are conceivable. One thing is certain: it will be exciting and the sailors will be spending a lot of time at the chart table these days! Click here for the live tracker (please click!).

Lisa Berger is also in demand. The likeable young Austrian from the Attersee sailing club was in 43rd place in the series boat ranking on Thursday with her Mini 980 "Mojo", just 40 nautical miles behind the leader Julie Simon ("Dynamips") and was travelling on the "outer lane". At that point, the field had only completed just under a quarter of the 1,270 nautical mile first leg from Les Sables to Horta. In the meantime, Fabrice Sorin had to retire due to electronic problems on his Maxi "Cartoffset". The race has lost a podium candidate with the fourth place finisher from the last edition. Sorin is expected to start in Lorient, where Boris Herrmann's team launched and celebrated the new Imoca "Malizia - Seaexplorer" for the first time on Tuesday.