Les Sables - Les Açores - Les Sables: Boule only seventh despite record - Lenz best German
The Belgian Romain Van Enis had already reached Horta by midday on Saturday, winning the first stage of Les Sables - Les Açores - Les Sables at the Protos. "It all went very quickly, even if the end of the race was a bit difficult mentally, I have to admit," he said at the finish, after his northerly approach to the island had paid off. The skipper had taken the lead of the fleet on Wednesday night and reached the finish line after 7 days, 23 hours, 13 minutes and 3 seconds, around 1.5 hours ahead of his closest rival, Frenchman Alexandre Demange. A little later, the Mini of compatriot Marie Gendron also crossed the line.
The next morning, not only the fourth-placed driver in this class was determined, but also the winner of the series classification. However, the final metres were nowhere near as close. Instead, the Frenchman won with a lead of over 13 hours over second-placed Cedric Marc.
Felix Oberle beats Boules record mini
This has already given him a strong starting position for the return leg, while the Protos are likely to be much more open. Swiss sailor Felix Oberle came fifth after almost nine days at sea. "I had hoped to encounter fewer squalls at the end of the first leg than when I first took part two years ago, but it was terrible," said Oberle. Back then, he finished the first leg in a strong fourth place in the series standings.
Nevertheless, Oberle was still satisfied: "I'm glad that I came fifth. I was really looking forward to sailing and enjoyed it." The Swiss even left record-hunter Carolin Boule and her foiler "Nicomatic" behind.
Boule had broken the class 24-hour record during the leg when she covered 322.7 nautical miles in one day. "That's incredible! I was actually sure it wasn't like that! The moment the wind was strong, my medium spinnaker broke. I really thought I wouldn't be able to hold the record," she said in her first reaction. Nevertheless, she was a little disappointed with her seventh place.
Jan-Hendrik Lenz best German starter in the Azores race - "didn't expect it"
Jan-Hendrik Lenz crossed the finish line of the first stage shortly after 10 a.m. today as the best German and sixth in the series minis. "It was a long race! I've never spent so much time alone at sea before." Nevertheless, the 30-year-old clearly exceeded his expectations: "My goal was to finish in the top 20. I'm super happy! When I crossed the finish line, I didn't expect to be so well placed."
Mini-Transat candidate Lenz had become seasick en route and also had to overcome some emotional ups and downs. "My nerves were put to the test, but in the end I learnt a lot and I enjoyed it. Arriving on the archipelago was incredible. I smelled the country before I even saw it, which was really nice!"
In the mini series, Thiemo Huuk is the other German participant in 34th place with just under 80 nautical miles to the finish. Marc Siewert, the best German in the Protos, is 15 nautical miles ahead of him. The return leg to Les Sables-d'Olonne starts from Horta on 4 August.
