Transat Jacques Vabre: Burke and Fink cross the finish line after an "insane race"
Tatjana Pokorny
· 24.11.2023
Are they 12th, 13th or something else? Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink's result for stage two of the 16th Transat Jacques changed several times over the course of several hours. However, this did not detract from the overall performance shown by the youngest team in the Class 40 field. In any case, the class will have to wait for their results from the first and second stages to be properly determined, taking into account various jury penalties and redress.
This race was a battle with highs and lows" (Lennart Burke)
"It was an amazing race," summarised Lennart Burke in the finish harbour of Fort-de-France after the first sips of coconut milk. He continued: "Unfortunately, after the race to catch up over the last few days, we were the only ones who got caught in a lull on the way to the finish. They came in from behind while we spun round several times. The wind only picked up again for us when the others were there and passed us. This race was a battle with highs and lows."
The first stage from Le Havre to Lorient was "not quite so rosy", says Burke. The second was like a physical and mental rollercoaster ride. "We endured a lot of physical suffering up to Cape Finisterre. It was super tough conditions with 40 knots of wind and more at Cape Finisterre. We've never experienced that before. It was brutal," says Burke. This was followed by "mental pain" when the only all-German transat duo then lost touch with the leading group in flat conditions. "When we saw that the others were pulling away by 200, 250 nautical miles, we thought it was over."
Melwin Fink and Lennart Burke: nine places made up in ten hours
However, the Next Generation Sailing team recovered on their Pogo 40 S4 "Sign for Com". With a small group of Class 40 teams, the pair - like Justine Mettraux and Julien Villion in the Imoca class before them - opted for the northern route on course for the Caribbean. At first, this proved to be less accelerating. But on the penultimate day of the leg, things suddenly took off for Burke and Fink: they made up nine places within ten hours. "When the northern option finally paid off, it was amazing," says Lennart Burke.
Until a few hours before the finish, it looked as if the duo could finish in eleventh place after a long dry spell in places outside the top 20. Then, between Diamond Rock and the finish line in the dark Caribbean night, they unfortunately got caught in a lull in the island cover and had to let two pursuers pass. Nevertheless, they crossed the finish line overjoyed, having already rationed their provisions.
As by far the youngest crew in the field, we wanted to show that we can do something. I think we did that quite well" (Lennart Burke)
Burke's initial assessment is relieved: "We didn't make the top ten, but we were close. We fought our way through storms and came back after setbacks. As by far the youngest crew in the field, we wanted to show that we can do something. I think we did that quite well." The two young professionals harmonised well on their Transat ride, as Lennart Burke assures us.
Transat Jacques Vabre: Imoca team with co-skipper Andreas Baden also at the finish line
In almost the same time slot as the German Class 40 "Sign for Com", Andreas Baden from Kiel, alongside Fabrice Amedeo on "Nexans - Art & Fenêtres", reached the transat finish on Friday morning in 28th place among the 34 Imocas on course for Martinique. Six Imoca crews had to give up. Not so the French-German duo, for whose skipper Amedeo the arrival was so important due to the planned participation in the return regatta Retour à la Base to qualify for the Vendée Globe.
We enjoyed being on the road together. I learnt a lot, even though it was still a non-foiler" (Andreas Baden)
Andreas Baden said at the finish: "It was a lot of fun. The finish was exciting once again. When we came round the corner at Diamond Rock, we experienced shifting winds and lulls. That's where Lennart and Melwin got stuck. Those who sailed completely under land got through well. We were further out and also got through quite well. Those in the middle - like Lennart and Melwin - just got stuck completely."
Baden reports on the morning showdown before Fort-de-France: "That was exciting once again. Three Class 40s more or less crossed the finish line with us. Now we're looking forward to eating and drinking when we get to the harbour." Taking stock of his Transat premiere, Andreas Baden said: "We enjoyed travelling together. I learnt a lot, even though it was still a non-foiler. I'm looking forward to travelling on a foiler in the future."
Follow the finale of the Transat Jacques Vabre in live tracking:
At this point, you will find external content that complements the article. You can display and hide it with a click.
