Bert doesn't know what to feel after his fist solo race in the Classe 6.50.  He did quite well in the 300 nm Pornichet Sélect, despite the very low winds.  He became 23rd in the series class, in a total of 53 competitors.  He's looking at the result with a healthy level of scepticism, but the initial goal has been reached: finishing the race and hence taking the first step in qualifying for the Transat 650 in 2011.

When he talks to the people at home right after crossing the finishing line at a terribly slow pace, Bert sounds very serious: "The last 7 miles have cost me 6 hours of just floating around, under the stinging sun.  It was a matter of finding the best currents. Also, I've been at the helm myself for the last 24 hours.  Nerve-wrecking in these conditions with very little wind.  But ok, I won't forget about my début in the Classe 6.50 anytime soon ..."

Yesterday at 13h00 Bert and Felicity II started in the Pornichet Sélect 6.50.  This is Bert's first solo long distance race, in which he will race over 300 nm in a very challenging environment.  The current weather predictions give the competitors a very weak wind.  Because of this, the race will take a long time, probably over 3 days.

Follow Bert in this challenging first race in the Classe 650 on this mapping application: 

http://www.dolink.fr/minicarte/41826/0

(The site seems to be a little unreliable ...)