This 2010 Mini Pavois will be very interesting after the Grand Prix d'Italie and the Demi-Clé that just ended... If the Grand Prix d'Italie and the Demi-Clé were two-handed-races, the Mini Pavois will enable us to monitor, during the 800 miles solo, some skippers who have made deep impression. On the side of the Grand Prix d'Italie, the one man to monitor is Etienne David. The Swiss has won the Grand Prix d'Italie together with the former boat's skipper: Stéphane Le Diraison. Note that this design Manuard was in the hands of Sam (editor's note, the architect himself) in 2007, in Stéfane's hands in 2009 (4th in The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 2009) and now in Etienne's hands in 2010 and 2011. Until now, a success! On the side of the Demi-Clé, the three first protos will be participating to the Mini Pavois Milan Kolacek (759) has won alongside Remi Aubrun, Henry Patou (551) finished second with Rémi Beauvais and Aurélien Ducroz (417) associated with David Sineau was third. We will observe their solo capacities... What about the Series? Brendan Archin (757) finished 3rd of the Demi-Clé with Jacques Dupré, Jean-Marie Oger (774) is fifth with Brieuc Oger and Jonas Gerckens (473) and Thibault Reinhart are 6th. These three boats will be at the Mini Pavois ... Now, the Select 6.50 will bring its share of information and tendencies. To be continued ...

TDCom, 2010 Mini Pavois partner

TDCOM will be a GPO's partner  for the 2010 Mini Pavois. Specialized in the geo-location, TDCOM will be our partner for the boats positioning and will provide us essential information to properly follow the race (course, speed, performance on 24 hours ...).

Since 1985, TDCOM has acquired a leading position in the field of radio communication, putting their skills, expertise and experience at events service.

TDCOM's core activity is the design, development, integration and marketing of communications solutions, voice communications, image and data management tools.

A leader in its field, TDCOM offers a range of essential equipment to eliminate the remaining barriers between you and your contacts wherever you are in the world.

TDCOM's missions are:

   1. The design and manufacture of communication, tracking or security solutions based on radio or satellite systems (Inmarsat, Iridium, Thuraya, VSAT) in France and abroad.
   2. In-the-field implementation of communications data leading to exceptional support of cultural, sporting and business agreements (Dakar, Tour de France, Rally of Tunisia, Marathon des Sables, Rally des Gazelles are just a few examples).
   3. Short and long term rental of radio communications and satellite equipment.
   4. Management of subscription accounts and satellite communications.

   1. The maritime.
   2. Export.
   3. Large government and private accounts.
   4. The military.
   5. Resellers land.

TDCOM is part of Group VIZADA.

"An ideal race!" according to Eric Mas - Meteo Consult

One month before the start of the Mini Pavois 2010, it is interesting to consider the possible weather conditions on this 800 miles race. Recall that a first leg of 300 miles will take 60 competitors from La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime) to Gijón (Asturias), then a sailing back to La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime) of 500 miles with a buoy to turn yet to be determined by the Race Director. So what kind of weather can we expect? Q & A Game with Eric Mas - Meteo Consult, in which we learn that tactics and strategies will be decisive during this race.

What kind of weather should we expect during the 2010 Mini Pavois?
Eric Mas: “The month of May is a big step forward in the summer to what is the weather conditions in the Bay of Biscay. We may regret that there are very small chances of NE wind that enables to sail in a stable situation and with limited wave heights by a relatively small fetch. This sparsity is due to the very few cold air reserves that make the area of high pressure - often stopped, in winter over Northern Europe. We can be pleased of the low risks of strong winds. The gales from SW are almost totally excluded. The very deep lows will shift, now, northward and will avoid the Bay of Biscay most of the time. Less SW but still fairly frequent westerly wind. The chance for it to exceed force 6 is only 5%. These westerly winds provide an opportunity to break the routine in a fast race with upwind sailing - but without having to tack that much, on the way between La Rochelle and Gijón, and abeam or reaching for the return leg to La Rochelle via Brittany. These conditions represent 40% of cases. All other wind directions are possible, but less permanently installed. The tactics will gain the upper hand to use the often weak and variable winds. We shall even fear the calm in 3% of cases while the axis of the Azores ridge of high pressure moves along the direct route."

What kind of surprises can there be this season?
Eric Mas: "Few surprises to be awaited. However, monitor the stormy low that does not move for a few dozen hours in the southern Bay. It does not establish a strong wind, but it can cause very violent gusts because invasions of cold air aloft are still possible in May. Now it is the gradient and the shear between the mild and moist air of low atmospheric layers and cold above layers that trigger the strongest squalls."

Having a turning point in southern Britain before sailing back to La Rochelle would confront the competitors to other difficulties, what would they be?

Eric Mas: "From a meteorological perspective, there is no danger in returning to the coast of Brittany in this season, but there are more convoluted situations. The coastal effects complicate the wind flow and we cannot rely on strong thermal breezes, the season temperature is still a bit too neutral. Sailing is also complicated because of the tidal currents even if the tidal range will be low until May, 10th."

Can we talk about a full and varied racing course (offshore and coastal)?
Eric Mas: "According to conditions in May, we can expect with high probability, that the path through a turning mark buoy in southern Brittany is doable. And then that it is a race that is actually ideal for offshore sailing in the Bay of Biscay, which opens widely the game of paths choices before arriving in Gijón's Bay traps. And it’s the same for the sailing back to Brittany that gives the opportunity to make routing strategies for 48 hours. The return to La Rochelle along the coasts of Brittany and Vendée requires a series of tactical decisions to integrate multiple, besides marking the opponents, all benefits and constraints of the wind, waves and currents knowing how variable they are along the coasts."

41 skippers already registered for the Mini Pavois...

On the 4th of March 2010, 41 sailors have registered for the 2010 Mini Pavois. Up to date, there are 18 prototypes and 23 series boats: 26 French sailors, 1 dual nationality sailor and 14 foreigners. Once again, the internationalization of the Classe Mini speaks for itself with the Spanish Jorge Maden Ruiz, a Turkish with Tolga Pamir, a Czech with Milan Kolacek, two Americans Andy Abel and Ryan Finn, two Dutchmen with Robert Rosen Jacobson and Lucas Schroder, a Scotsman with Ewan Stirling, a Belgian with Jonas Gerckens, a Canadian with Bruce Gailey, a German with Jorg Riechers, a Swiss with Etienne David, a Franco-Swiss with Thibault Reinhart and finally, a New Zealander with Conrad Colman.

Fair fights to come…

They are currently "only" 41 to be registered; it will fight hard in both categories.

Prototypes: Monitor Nicolas Boidevezi (719 - Défi G.D.E.) on its design Bertrand 2008 who finished 7th in the last The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50; Jorg Riechers (753 - Mare.de) on its a design Bertrand 2009 that is the 2009 Transgascogne's winner, as well as Sébastien Rogues (716 – Eole Génération – GDF Suez) that has traded his series boat for Henry Paul Schipman's boat - design Lombard - that was 3rd in Salvador de Bahia in 2009. Also note the arrival in the prototypes category of a Swiss that is already known in the sailing world: Etienne David (679 - Teamwork). With several participations in the Tour de France à la Voile and an impressive record of achievements, Etienne will sail off on Stéphane Le Diraison's former Manuard 2007 that finished 4th in the last The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50. Please also keep an eye on...Three new prototypes: Thomas Normand (787 – Financière de l’Echiquier) with a design Manuard 2009, Milan Kolacek (759 - Follow me) on another design Manuard 2009 and Thibault Reinhard (791) on a proto Marin 2010. Also rely on the only woman (for now), Véronique Loisel (429 – De l’espace pour la mer) that will sail on her proto Lombard 2003, which is none other than the boat that belonged to Alex Pella and that finished 2nd in the 2005 edition of The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50. Finally, note the arrival on the circuit of a free ride World Champion (extreme skiing) Aurélien Ducroz (417 – Nissan) on a proto Lombard. After plenty of challenges on snow, Aurelien wants a challenge at sea!

On the side of series boats, 14 Pogo 2 will line up for the start among the 23 sailors. Once again, Finot will be the most represented. There will be as well two Manuard's Tip-Top with Jorge Maden Ruiz (636 – Casio G-Shock) and Loïc Le Bras (579 – Cachaca) and we can celebrate the arrival of three new D2 - design Rolland - in the hands of Tolga Pamir (737 - Yakamoz), Pierre Cizeau (746 - E=MD2) and Brendan Archin (757 - Bibounde). Will the supremacy Pogo 2 be shattered? To be continued... Four competitors do their come back after their adventure in the 2009 Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50, namely Robert Rosen Jacobson (602-Ned602), Jonas Gerckens (473 - Zerline), Emmanuel Renaud (446 - Koati) and Conrad Colman (480 - Betelgeuse).

2010 Mini Pavois' poster