Some wonderful conditions were brought together for this autumnal version of the 16th Marie-Agnès Peron Trophy. Good, varied weather and an unexpected  finish came together to bring the Mini season to a close.

Entering Douarnenez Bay was a really decisive moment and created quite a few disappointments last night.

But thankfully the hot meal served by the volunteer team was there to cheer everyone up on arrival. Thank you everyone and see you next year!

Finishing order – Prototype :

First : Fabio Muzzolini – 945 – crossed the line at 23:25,19’  which is 1 day 10 hrs 25min and 19 sec of racing

Second : Arno Biston the 551 in 1 day 12 hrs 11min 03sec

Third : Nolwenn Pébelier in 1 day 12 hrs 30min 45sec

Fourth : Emmanuel Renaud in 1 day 12 hrs 46min 03sec

Fifth : Benjamin Doyen in 1 day 12 hrs 54min 25sec

Finishing order -Séries :

First : Hugo Picard on the 1014 in 1 day 11hrs 06 min 59 sec

Second : Léo Debiesse the  966 (séries) in 1 day 11hrs 52min 19sec

Third : Lennart Burke on 943 (séries) in 1 day 11hrs 58min 15sec

Fourth : Loïc Blin on 871 (séries) in 1 day 12hrs 03min 03sec

Fifth : Jean-Marie Jézéquel on 1016 in 1 day 12hrs 04min 18sec

Podium Vintage Prototypes :

551 Arno Biston

606 Lucas Valenza-Troubat

433 Irana Gracheva

Podium Vintage Séries :

488 Antoine Biarnes

697 Hélène Clouet

671 Matthieu Lacharme

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Fabio Muzzolini crossed the line at 23:25:19 which is 1 day 10 hrs 25 min 19 sec of racing. Very happy with first victory « I really wanted to get in front of the Series category . The Maxi go really quickly The start was a bit intense and I quickly took the lead in the race. Next it was 24 hours of stress to keep my position :

There was a lovely night of surfing at Groix . Tartine is a really great boat built by a talented guy and a gentleman. Its also a demanding boat . With my first Transat I passed over on the performance, with the 945 I will remedy that next year.

Arriving at 00:06:59 second Hugo Picard is the first serie on the 1014 « It was intense. I was lucky ! It’s not over until you’re over the finish line. There were a lot of different rhythms. It’s my fourth race of the season, I started on Mini’s on 1^st July last year. Three years ago I did a transatlantic on a 7m boat in 31 days…. I want to go faster in 2021.

Podium Proto

1 : Fabio Muzzolini – 945 –  1d 10h 25min 19 sec de course

2 : Arno Biston le 551 – 1d 12h 11min 03sec

3 : Nolwenn Pébelier – 1d 12h 30min 45sec

4 : Emmanuel Renaud –  1d12h 46min 03sec

5 : Benjamin Doyen – 1d 12h 54min 25sec

Podium Série :

1 : Hugo Picard  1014 – 1d11h 06 min 59 sec

2 : Léo Debiesse  966 – 1d 11h 52min 19sec

3 : Lennart Burke   943 – 1d11h 58min 15sec

4: Loïc Blin   871 – 1d 12h 03min 03sec

5 : Jean-Marie Jézéquel  1016 – 1d12h 04min 18sec

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At 21:30 only two boats have entered the Bay:

Fabio Muzzolini’s 945 Tartine

Hugo Picard’s 1014 Kiraucassis

They’re making their way slowly to the finish line and should arrive in an hour.

Behind them, clever would be the person who guesses who will be next on dry land..

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The wind dropping at the end of this afternoon reshuffles the cards.

At 17:00, whilst  Fabio Muzzolini on Tartine the  945 seems to have got going again, Nolwenn Pébelier has taken 2^nd position followed by  Arno Biston on the 551 Bahia Express.

Amongst  the Series, Hugo Dhallenne seems likes he’s attempted a very northerly option at Basse du Lis which could really cost him dearly. At the moment, 16 nautical miles from the finish, we have  Hugo Picard on the 1014 neck and neck with  Jean-Marie Jézéquel on the 1016 who dominate, 0.6 miles ahead of  Lennart Burke (943) and Léo Debiesse (966). We’re getting  ready for a great final in Douarnenez Bay !

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After the first long, cold night, the fleet stretches from the Glénans to Sein island, over sixty nautical miles. No changes to note  with the course leader. Tartine the prototype 975 skippered by Fabio Muzzolini holds first place with a small lead – 4 short miles –  over Hugo Dhallenne skipper of the series  979 YC Saint Lunaire. They’re followed by  Numerobis – 787, the prototype sailed  by  Nolwenn Pébelier. A few miles further we find Jean-Marie Jézéquel on the  1016-Branchet-KPL and  Anne-Claire Le Berre’s 1005-Millenium.

Around  10 miles after the  first prototype, Emmanuel Renaud’s  753-Aventure Océan marks  the rear  of the first group, which numbers ten boats. They might be close to the finish line, now  less than 40 miles away, but the competitors will soon slow down with the wind dropping. They will need patience before they can enjoy the hot meal served on their return. They also need to be careful with the tide whose range is 108 this afternoon.

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After 8 hours sailing, the race leader is nearly in view of  Groix island whilst the latecomers  approach the Glenans. The leaders have set a fast pace and already covered about  75 nautical miles out of the total 220 so a third of a the race. So we find  Fabio Muzzolini on the 945 outstripping by 2 nautical miles the Maxi (séries) belonging to Hugo Dhallenne on the 979 and Jean-Marie Jézéquel on the 1016. After them come two more Maxi’s, Anne-Claire Le Berre’s 1005 and Basile Bourgnon’s 975 are bumper to bumper. For the proto’s, Emmanuel Renaud’s  753  is in 2^nd position at 4 miles from the leader tailed by  Nolwenn Pébelier on the 787.

Withdrawals :

Victor Turpin’s 850 had a broken  bowsprit and  returns to Lorient.

David Bellanger’s 867  encountered  piloting problems and went back to Douarnenez.

Tanguy Aulanier’s 896 had power issues and is  going to  Lorient or La Trinité

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Under a huge sun hidden behind a cloud with  12-14 knots of wind, the whole fleet got off to a clean start for  the 16^th Marie-Agnès  Péron Trophy at 13:00 today Thursday.

The 914 skippered by Brieuc Lebec was first to go around the starting marker  followed by Lennart Burke on the 943 and Jean-Marie Jézéquel on the 1016. Over on the Prototypes the 850 outstripped  Fabio Muzzolini on the 945 and Nolwenn Pébelier on the 787.

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On the eve of the big day, we report that a series of withdrawals have been announced in the last 48 hours. For various reasons a dozen sailors have had to give up the chance to take part. We note in particular the absence of Ambrogio Beccaria and Chaffoil who were the big favourites for the Trophy. However, this reshuffles the cards and opens up other possibilities for the podium.

So, for the  departure which has now been postponed until  13:00 tomorrow, Thursday,  there will no more than  49 skippers, including 7 women.

The race briefing will be held this evening at 17:00.

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After having had a problem with the keel of the 800 during the Duo Concarneau which immobilised the boat at the boatyard, Irina Gracheva found a way to line up at the start line.

Irina, could you explain why it’s important to you to do the MAP ? And how do you approach the race?

« For me situation for MAP is tricky now. The race is important for many reasons. My personal reason – I really love Douarnenez and the atmosphere in Winches club. It’s always friendly, we feel welcome and I was in love with races here from first time I arrived in 2018. Sport reason is to finalize my participation in French championship en solitaire. It is personal result and I am allowed to continue with another proto. Now I am on first position in Championship and I would like to make everything to keep it. This year was very difficult for any foreign competitor and I already put all my efforts to get good boat, to sail fast and strong, to be in France for all races. And MAP for me is very important race to be sure I did everything what I could. My boat for MAP is an old proto, build 2003, with old original sails. Boat didn’t race from 2008. We don’t expect to arrive fast, but I see it as very nice opportunity to sail boat in his original state and to feel same as sailors in 2003-2008 did feel. And I see it as Spirit of Mini. I got this boat from Remy and it was very kind of him. Remy and his wife did a lot during this year to make 433 to be racing boat again, but work to bring him in perfect state is not finished yet »

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