Skrajšana regata in veliko slabe volje
Včeraj pozno zvečer je organizator 200 glavi množici skiperjev in posadk naznanli, da zaradi zelo slabe vremenske napovedi (dež, povprečno 30 vozlov vetra), francoske pomorske oblasti ne dovolijo izvedbe regate Mini Fastnet po originalni 700 milj dlogi poti (se pravi Douarnenez, obrat pri svetilniku Fastnet ter nazaj v Douarnenez). Zato so se v vodstvu regate odločili, da 1.start regate prestavijo z 12.00 na 18.00 danes in 2. regato skrajsajo za kar 500 milj. Lahko si mislite, da je to pri jadralcih povzročilo nemalo slabe volje, saj so bili vsi borbeno nastrojeni za Mini Fastnet, ki je obetal rekordni čas, v zameno za to pa so dobili kratko, 200 milj dolgo regato ob obali Bretonije. Pričakovano je, da bodo zaradi močnih vetrov na cilju že po 30 urah. Temu bo sledil dan počitka, nato pa namerava organizator izpeljati še dve krajši dnevni regati v sredo in četrtek. Ekipa Adria4ocean je nad odločitvijo razočarana, saj si je na Fastnetu obetala vrhunsko uvrstitev. Na vprašanje, zakaj zmaga na krajši poti ni dovolj, enoglasno odgovorijo, da je še vedno cilj zmaga, razočarani pa so, ker tej regati sedaj težko rečejo Mini Fastnet, saj sploh ne gre okrog slovitega svetilnika.
Late yesterday evening the race comittee announced to a crowd of 200 skippers and crew, that due to a very bad weather forecast (rain and a good 30 knots of wind on average), the French naval authorities have forbidden the Mini Fastnet in it’s original course from Douarnenez, round Fastnet Rock and back to Douarnenez (700 miles). So first of all the start has been postponed do 6 p.m. today and the race has been shortened for 500 miles. You can imagine the skippers were not too happy with this decision. They were all ready to do the Mini Fastnet which was promising to be a record breaking one, instead they got a 200 miles long race near the coast of Brittany. It is expected the minis will be back in approximately 30 hours. After a day of rest the race comittee intends to do two small races on Wednesday and Thursday. Team Adria4ocean is really disapointed about this since they were going for a top result. Answering my question if a win isn’t just a win, they unanimously answer: ofcourse a win is a win, but this race is no longer the Mini Fastnet - we will never come close to the Fastnet Rock.