The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 commenced at 2.17pm today. 85 solo sailors were on starting line for the start of the 17th Transatlantic event, a journey of 4200NM from La Rochelle, France to Bahia, Brazil.
The weather conditions were ideal. A hot sun with 15 knots of breeze from the northeast. The sea was relatively flat, and slightly lumpy, with an almost perfect start.
But some should have read the instructions of the race more carefully.
Juan Carlos Sanchis (Somni-Gaes former Spasmos) had high hopes for this Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50, his third after 2003 and 2005. Unfortunately at the gun, the Spaniard collided with the Italo-German Daniela Klein (538 Tacchificio Monti).
Klein continued her journey, but Sanchis was forced to turn back, returning to the Port des Minimes. He even had to request assistance from the race committee to be towed. His disappointment was huge. Further information at it comes to hand.
Australian Simon McGoldrick is sailing AUS 587 (Pogo 2) in the race. View his qualification race for the event below.
Thierry Martinez took these images at the start of the event - ThMartinez/Sea&Co - www.thmartinez.com
