Reminder of the facts
Following a big blow announced from the first days of the Mini Transat 2021, almost all the fleet had decided to take shelter on the coast of Cape Finisterre. This decision was taken following the unofficial request of the race director, Denis Hugues. But two competitors had nevertheless decided to continue their journey. Melwin Fink (920 - SingForCom) won the first leg one day ahead of the rest of the fleet.
Upon arrival in the Canary Islands, several departments decided to file a claim A time bonus or a cancellation of stage 1. This would not have been fair for the first 4 Protoypes who had taken a big lead and reached the Canaries without any problem. Knowing that the Mini Transat is played on time and not on the ranking, it would have been difficult for all to catch up.
24 hours of bonus for 80 runners
The jury made its decision this Wednesday, October 20, 2021 and it is finally a bonus of 24 hours which is attributed to 80 runners. It does not concern the first 4 Proto or those who decided to continue their route, Piers Copham (719 - Voiles des Anges), Melwin Fink (920 - SingForCom) and Christian Kargl (980 - All Hands On Deck), the latter having only made a technical stopover following a blackout.
The jury made this choice by judging that " the information or advice to take shelter in the nearest port given by the Race Direction on October 1st, after the issuance of a BMS concerning the South Finisterre and North Finisterre zones, had been vague and imprecise, and therefore not clearly understandable for the competitors"
The podium of the first stage is thus slightly modified. The young German keeps his first place with 1 hour and 52 minutes on Hugo Dhallenne (979 - YC Saint Lunaire), now 2nd, and the Austrian Kargl loses one place.
In the Protos, the ranking does not change. Only Camille Bertel (900 - Cap Ingelec) classified out of time is finally classified 23 e .
