Plastimo Lorient Mini Race (part 2) AAR

A 95 nm overnight race in great conditions against fierce competition

This AAR covers the second part of the exciting Plastimo Lorient Mini (PLM) race where 85 Minis competed in this double-handed, mixed gender event.

Replay the Race Tracker

Key Take Aways:

Finished: Since we completed the PLM, this race checks the final box for all of the requirements to race in the Mini Transat this September! (Even though I am fully qualified with an entry spot, each skipper must complete one race in the year of the Mini Transat)
Close racing: After about 50 nm of sailing, we were just 4.7 nm behind the lead series boat going into the final leg. With 45 nm to go, we were within striking distance of the main pack of the fleet.
Boat/equipment held up well: Once again we did not break anything, even as the winds increased and the waves grew throughout the day. I was really happy with how the boat handled in a wide range of conditions and that we did not break anything.

Early on Saturday morning and before sunrise, Jane and I started rigging Terminal Leave for the second part of the PLM. Originally planned to be just one race, the harsh weather forecasted for that Friday forced the change to a two stage race with the elapsed times combined for scoring. This second race day was after another late night of navigation prep and weather study. The evening before race day, the race organization provided four possible race courses that ranged in length and location. The final decision on the route was not released until about an hour before we left the pontoon, so we prepared for every scenario. There is a lot to finalize before turning over all phones to the race organization and the departure.

The Mini fleet departing La Base in Lorient (Terminal Leave is just right of center), *Photo credit ©Anne Beaugé / PLM 2023*

As the sun rose, the Minis started to depart La Base in Lorient for the starting area just outside of the port entrance. As we passed a trimaran, IMOCAs, and Class40s it provided an excellent reminder of the types of solo ocean racing boats the Mini class feeds into here in France. Going into the starting sequence we had more time to get settled and felt ready for the long day of racing ahead. At 0955 the fleet went into a five minute starting sequence for a starboard tack favored upwind beat. I was happy with our position close to the race committee boat and working up towards the line. It was the favored side of the line and getting congested with boats all fighting for room. As we hoisted the jib, the halyard unexpectedly wrapped itself around the windward spreader tip preventing us from raising the sail. This small delay (less than 30 seconds) caused us to not speed up in time and as the gun went off at 1000, we found ourselves in the third row. Certainly frustrated, it was now time to work with the position we were in and get off the line.

First leg of the race, *Photo credit ©Anne Beaugé / PLM 2023*

This first leg was about 4 nm long and upwind, with starboard being the long tack. Maintaining a lane was tough since all 85 Minis start at the same time. There are two major factors that make these starts challenging. First, the prototype and series boats (like my boat) all start together. The protos are made of carbon fiber, have taller masts, and canting keels which means most of them can sail higher and faster than series boats. Second, The fleet is essentially a box rule (with a few more requirements for the series class). That means with so many different types of Classe Mini boats, we sail different angles upwind and at different speeds. What does this all mean? As a series boat, I have to be aggressive on the starting line to set myself up for success with a clear lane. With the third row start, we quickly found ourselves bouncing between periods of disturbed air and pockets of decent wind. The fleet was a tight pack with everyone starting on the race committee half of the line (right side).

Series boats in red, prototypes in blue, *Photo credit ©Anne Beaugé / PLM 2023*

The first mark of the course was leaving the island of Groix to port…go as close to the rocky coast as you are willing to risk it. One wrong move and the lee shore quickly approaches. Once we could see we were not going to make it around the island and the fleet spread out, we tacked out. The part of the fleet that started closest to the race committee boat end of the line and could hold a lane, were able to make it around the island without tacking. This provided the top boats a big advantage during the first few miles of this race.

Rounding Île de Groix for the long down wind leg, *Photo credit ©Anne Beaugé / PLM 2023*

As we rounded the island, Jane and I hoisted the big A2 spinnaker for a down wind run of just over 30 nm long. With a spinnaker, full main, and reefed jib (this helps the sail shape and acts as a stay sail) we started surfing down waves. The wind ranged from 18-22 kts with gusts to 25 kts. Terminal Leave handled these conditions great, even with this being the upper max range on this spinnaker.

There was a solid four hours of surfing downwind with all the gear stacked aft and our bodies sitting as far back as possible to keep the bow out of the water. We averaged about 8-9 kts, with a max speed of over 13 kts. The hardest problem with these conditions is accelerating and plowing the bow into the the back of the next wave.

Despite sailing a strong downwind leg and pushing the boat, we reached the next mark in 50th place. While not happy with the standings we continued to claw our way back up the fleet. After dropping the A2 spinnaker we switched over to the Code 0 furling sail for a reach to the next mark 11 nm away. We started passing a few boats and could see the fleet getting closer.

Rounding the downwind mark and switching to the Code 0

As we rounded the farthest mark from Lorient we were just over half way into the race with 45 nm to go. At this point the lead series boat was only 4.7 nm ahead of us, compared to almost 10 nm an hour earlier. We did not know exactly where we were at in the rankings, but remained committed to racing hard on the final leg as we saw more boats appear on AIS.

Half way through the race, rounding the farthest mark away from Lorient

As the fleet compressed, rounding the farthest mark from Lorient meant we had a long upwind sail on the next leg. This consisted of 15 nm of open water sailing towards the island of Belle Île, 10 nm of rounding the outside of this island, then 20 nm to the channel of Lorient. As we completed our first tack and approached the island, the main pack came back into focus. This was some much needed motivation as we were sailing upwind in about 20+ kts of wind with growing seas. Life on board Terminal Leave was once again becoming very uncomfortable.

The tracks from the fleet criss crossed this area, but most ended up going close to shore like us. We had good speed and point compared to most of the boats around us and were gaining. We climbed up about 8 spots during this period.

As the sun set, we were tacking in and out of the southern edge of Belle Île for current relief. There were plenty of close calls between starboard and port tack boats here, all racing hard while trying to avoid each other and running aground. It is moments like this that stand out for me because they are incredible watching so many boats racing at night, where all you see are tiny mast head running lights and the occasional glow from a head lamp.

After rounding the island shortly after midnight, it was time for the final stretch of 20 nm to the entrance of Lorient. Initially on starboard tack and close hauled with wind speeds 15-18 kts, the wind began to lighten and shift right. As we eased the main and jib, eventually we were able to hoist the code 0 on a close reach. The wind continued to drop to about 5-7 kts, but with this angle and large sail area we were still moving with about 4-6 kts of boat speed.

When the first series boat finished shortly before 0200, we were in 43rd place out of 61 boats and about 15 nm from the finish line. We could see boats all around us and were going through a range of periods of sometimes gaining on the boats ahead of us followed by losing distance as well. It was frustrating and we were tired, but we kept pressing forward.

Final 20 nm leg back to Lorient, upwind then close reach with a decreasing wind velocity

The final few hours were cold. We were coming up to the end so it was not worth getting distracted by adding new layers of clothes, but my toes were frozen in my boots. Once we reached the entrance to Lorient, the final challenge was a 2 nm sail to the finish line while staying out of the channel, as it was deemed a restricted zone. There were a few factors that made this extremely difficult. The course direction was directly upwind, narrow, at night with little moon light, and the tide had turned against us. The chart below shows the rocks and exposed land at low tide, exactly along the edge of where we were sailing. The current increased when we were about 100 yards from the finish line. We kept sailing back and forth, but we were not making much forward progress. The closer we got to land (and rocks) the more progress we would make, but risked running aground. There must have been at least 2 knots of current, because the anchored finish line power boat was showing a serious bow wake like it was moving. Additionally, the finish line mark was the channel marker where the current was ripping out of Lorient.

After getting just a few feet away from the finish line multiple times, we were now trying to avoid two other boats who had finished but who could not clear themselves out of the finish area. Our final attempt consisted of sailing into the shallow water past the port side of the finish line boat. Then we tacked, turned downwind to gain speed, and hooked closely around the stern of the power boat, nearly clipping it. After a brief moment of uncertainty as we shot head to wind, it worked!

At 0559 on Sunday morning we finished this 95 nm long race 44th out of 61 series boats. While I know Terminal Leave and I can perform much better, it was just the first race of the season. I have to keep reminding myself that many of my fellow competitors started training for this season as early as January so I need to catch up quickly. We finished in the main pack of the fleet and am proud of this finish. Both for the long hard fight and because it completes the final requirement for getting to the starting line of the Mini Transat this fall!

Thank you Jane for joining me as co-skipper for the PLM and for all of your help in getting the boat ready.

We finished 43rd out of 61 series boats in cumulative time for the Plastimo Lorient Mini race. We completed the objective of finishing with the ultimate objective being the Mini Transat and the boat held up well. Nothing broke even in the squalls and high winds throughout both stages. Today I depart Lorient and head back to La Trinité-sur-Mer for training and boat work over the next few weeks.

This campaign is only possible and mostly funded through donations from supporters. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. Your support helps get this campaign to the Mini Transat starting line! There are two online donation options available. Check out the U.S. Patriot Sailing website (tax deductible donations!) or my GoFundMe page (https://gofund.me/f43e698e)

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Plastimo Lorient Mini Race (part 2) AAR

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Plastimo Lorient Mini Race (part 1) AAR