Surprise winner

Sam Manuard flies into Douarnanez at conclusion of Mini-Fastnet race

Earlier this morning Sam Manuard continued the Seb Magnen tradition that designer-sailors are king when he crossed the line first in the Mini-Fastnet Race.

Sailing with Yannick Cano, Manuard's 21ft flier Le Grau du Roi-Port Camargue crossed the line off Douarnanez at 0738 local time in France this morning. Considering their slow start - they exploded a spinnaker during Saturday's prologue and were up all night prior to the start fixing it - were delighted with the result. They had been third around the Fastnet before the blast reach back to France in 20-25 knots southwesterlies.

Manuard was brought up in Africa, Europe and South America and has sailed Formula 18 catamarans and in the Tour Voile, but is best known in the Mini class where his designs are becoming increasingly popular. To date this year he has been second in the Odyssey of Ulysses and third in the Course de Lions in the Mediterranean.

His crew Yannick Cano is also an accomplished Mini sailor having previously come fourth in the Transgascoigne (still to come this season) and won the Mini Barcelona.

Second home were early leaders Fred Duthil and François Lebourdais on board 265 All Mer. The duo arrived one hour later at 0835. They took what proved to be some tactically poor decisions prior to rounding the Fastnet in 11th position.

We are awaiting more news of the next finishers. Among them is likely to be Armel Tripon and Erwan Leroux's Moulin Roty who rounded the Fastnet last night at 2035 in first place 1 hour 45 minutes ahead of Sojasun sailed by Frédéric Duval and Olivier Sechet.

Yesterday Tristan Petit and Blaise Bernos on 369 Bolitho abandoned the race for unknown reasons, while 349 Kinedo skippered by Jean Marc Lanusse retired after dismasting following their rounding of the Fastnet in 16th position