Mini class: On course Mini-Transat ever stronger - half-time podium for Hendrik Lenz

Of all the German Mini-Transat candidates heading for the solo race across the Atlantic starting on 21 September this year, Hendrik Lenz from Düsseldorfer Yachtclub appeared to be the strongest right from the start. Having grown up on a houseboat with his family, the electrical engineering graduate already brought plenty of regatta experience to his campaign, including from the German Sailing League.

Successful in the countdown to the mini-transat

Hendrik Lenz started sailing with the Opti at the age of five. Now he is heading towards his biggest project to date with increasing success. After recent strong top ten results in the series ranking of classic French mini regattas, the 31-year-old mini-transat candidate was already looking forward to the fact that "I can now annoy the top five".

In the Puru Transgascogne, he managed even more than that at the start: he sailed his Vector "Monoka" to third place on the podium in part one in northern Spain! The biggest success to date in the Mini class was achieved with a lot of fighting spirit in the final sprint. The race leads from Port Bourgenay to Gijon and back, soloists and two-hand crews were able to register. On the first section, Hendrik Lenz was only beaten by his "ever-frequent sparring partner" Nicolo Gamenara on "Red Hot Mini Pepper" and Quentin Mocudet on "Saveurs & Delices".

What was particularly exciting was that Lenz only realised his podium success in the 240 nautical mile long prelude to the classic on the last nautical mile. The race got off to a tame start in five to eight knots of wind. It then freshened up in line with the forecast before a calm phase had to be mastered halfway through the race.

On the podium with fighting spirit and nerves of steel

The leading Minis crossed the finish line in northern Spain in twelve to 14 knots of wind. "The conditions were nice, without waves, with a few wind shifts, super cool for tacking. You had to keep your nerve," said Lenz, summarising his aggressive final phase. He was still in tenth place until the last nautical mile to the finish of the first leg.

He then overtook one competitor after the other in the upwind tacking battle. Hendrik Lenz benefited from the fact that he came more from the west, was able to drop a little more and had a slight speed advantage. "The boat is going great! Even the reaching after the start was like flying," enthused the miniist.

It was amazing. I'm completely blown away." Hendrik Lenz

Hendrik Lenz crossed the finish line just over a quarter of an hour after second-placed Quentin Mocudet. "With Niccolo Gamenara and myself, two Vector minis actually made it onto the podium in just one maxi," said Lenz, not without satisfaction.

Successful test for the mini-transat

The almost 30-boat strong field of series minis had already opened stage one one day before the originally planned 18 July. The background to the decision was the predicted stormy final, which might not have hit the front boats hard, but could have hit the back boats hard. As a result, the fleet of 76 boats in proto, series, single-handed and double-handed divisions sailed the course to Gijón safely.

Hendrik Lenz is completely satisfied with his boat "Monoka" (GER 1085) two months before the Mini-Transat start, saying: "We sometimes had 19 knots at night. So the material was definitely put under strain. I have the feeling that everything is holding up well. We first had to play with the new mainsail. We were travelling at a constant 16 knots in the second reef. The wide mini-bow really squeezes the waves apart. It's really fun!"

Not all the top Mini sailors may be at the start in the Puru Transgascogne, but Lenz's sporting and determined performance on the Mini-Transat course in a well-staffed field is remarkable. Hendrik Lenz himself said: "I know that not everyone was there, but you still have to sail to the podium for the first time in this class. I'm enjoying the success with cautious joy. And I am cautiously motivated!"

Mini-Transat co-favourite successful with Proto

Benoît Marie on "Nicomatic - Petit Bateau" once again came out on top in the proto classification on the first leg. He was followed by Hajime Kukumai on "DMG Mori - Sailing Academy 1" and Mathis Bourgnon on "Assomat". Click here for the tracking and the results. The fleet is currently still in the Puerto Deportivi Gijón. The return race starts on 23 July with the starting signal at 11 a.m. in the French start and finish port of Port Bourgenay.

Very French, very mini! A glimpse of the scenery before the start of the race. It was one of the last major races for all Mini Transat candidates to prepare for and compare themselves with the competition: