Mini class: Lenz back in the top ten - "Even more would have been possible"

Mini fields are usually as large as possible. The 21st Trophée Marie-Agnes Péron over a shortened 160 instead of 220 nautical miles also attracted 50 standard boats and 25 Protos to the starting line. Most of the 75 soloists are preparing for the Mini-Transat from 21 September by taking part in the current French classics in the Mini class. This includes Hendrik Lenz from Düsseldorf. Like the previous Mini en Mai, he finished his latest challenge in eighth place.

Two mistakes cost top five position

The fleet was sent into the race on 4 June, one day before the originally planned date. "It was a really tough, short race," said Hendrik Lenz after the pressurised 24-hour chase to and from Douarnenez. This time there was no time penalty, I finished eighth again. I could have done even better, but I made two crucial mistakes and then dropped back down from fourth."

An unfortunate gybe in terms of timing and handling and a misjudgement of the wind on the return to Duarnenez Bay cost them an even better position. Hendrik Lenz's allusion to the second eighth place was due to his review of the Mini en Mai two weeks earlier. There too, the 31-year-old German Mini attacker had finished a strong eighth, but dropped back to 25th place in the final standings after incurring a time penalty for a five-second early start.

This time he retained his eighth place after 23 hours, 32 minutes and 30 seconds and was delighted with the confirmation of his consistent top ten performances.

I'm really starting to annoy the top five." Hendrik Lenz

The assessment of "Monoka" skipper Hendrik Lenz was correspondingly positive: "Overall, I'm very satisfied and happy with my performance. Now I just need to reduce the mistakes. And I also need a little break from the races for now. Unfortunately, someone crashed into my boat after I crossed the finish line. That put me in a bit of a bad mood, but it's not quite as bad as I first thought. I'll definitely be sailing back to la Rochelle."

Mini-Dominator: Marie wins for the fourth time

The series classification at the Trophée Marie-Agnes Péron was won by top favourite Paul Cousin on the Maxi 6.50 "AFP - Groupe Biocombustibles" in 22 hours, 29 minutes and 10 seconds ahead of Deniz Bagci on his Maxi "Jules - Sponsor wanted" and the third Maxi "Groupe Satov" with Amaury Guérin. The results for the series and prototype fleets can be found here.

In the Protos category, Benoît Marie once again demonstrated his superiority in the battle for the MAP trophy on the Manuard design "Nicomatic - Petit Bateau". He took his fourth victory in his fourth start this year. His time of 20 hours, 40 minutes and 54 seconds was impressive! Around one and a half hours after Marie, Julien Letissier crossed the line on "Frerots - Branchet". Third place was secured by Basile Gautier on "Nass & Wind - Les EDG" a further 40 minutes later.

Tom Wehde from Melwin Fink and Lennart Burke's racing team Next Generation Boating, who is only planning for the Mini-Transat 2027, was able to improve compared to the last regatta. He crossed the finish line in 14th place after 23 hours and 57 minutes, placing him in the first third of the series boats. Tom Wehde said: "That was a wonderful end to my first Mini season. I'm over the moon with the result!"

Mini "Osterrath" comes home for refit

For Tom Wehde, who was selected from almost 50 applicants for the Mini-Transat 2027 young talent project in November 2024, it was the last regatta of the year in France. He will now bring the Mini "Osterrath" back to Germany, where the team from the Next Generation Boating shipyard will carry out work on the keel and other tyres. For the talented youngster from the Hamburg racing team, the first half of the year was a successful start to his long-term Mini campaign.