These are the best images that have just arrived from the Transgascogne exit today from the Avilés Asturian port, to the Gala town of Les Sables de Olonne to complete the second stage... are images exclusively for Digital Nautics.

04 / 08 / 2017: French Ian Lipinski wins the first stage of the Transgascogne that ends in Avilés

The first to arrive was the 'Griffon', tripulated alone by French Ian Lipinski, who covered in just under 46 hours the 240 nautical miles that separate the port of departure, the French town of Les Sables d'Olonne, south of Nantes, from the finish line, at the entrance of the river. He crossed it at 1007 hours yesterday with three hours and twenty-two minutes of advantage over the second classified, the 'April Marine', one of the sixteen ships of the 53 in competition with two crew members on board, the French Clement Machetel and Jay Thomson. The third was also a solo navigator, the Swiss Simon Koste, to the 'Eight Cube Mojo' cane.

The Transgasconia, a world reference in the high competition candle, arrived in Avilés

Four are Spanish, two on double ships and others from a crew member, Juan Ribas and Marta Güemes. They held the seventeen and twenty posts in the series class, respectively, only six hours from the winner, Lipinski, to the 'Griffon' cane. Marc Chopin, president of the organization and the sailing club of Les Sables, said "very happy for the great welcome that the people of Avilés have given us" and especially thanked "the great work of the people of the Navy that has helped us a lot. In two years we hope to be here," he said in response to the words of the mayor. The reception was held in the municipal hall, and in addition to a large number of regatists, judges and staff of the organization, the career director, Denis Huges and the president of the club Marina de Avilés La Peñona, Mario Bada, as well as councillors of municipal opposition groups were also present.

The exit will be Saturday in Salinas Bay. The participating ships, called Minis 6.50, will complete a race field before starting the journey to Les Sables, 240 nautical miles in a straight line, which will not necessarily be the one followed by the regatists. The course is set according to the wind, and predictions announce that it will blow against, of North component.

30 / 07 / 2017: The Regata Transgascogne left Les Sables d'Olonne for Avilés

Shortly after 12: 00 today the fleet participating in the seventeenth edition of the Transgascogne began in the Bay of Les Sables d'Olonne. The first stage has been shortened to 245 miles (a reduction of 100 miles over the expected 345), as the regatta director has decided to eliminate the return of the island Belle- Ile due to the little wind that the weather predictions announce in the Gulf of Vizcaya.

The prestigious aim race for the Mini- Transat has now left the French port of Les Sables d'Olonne with half an hour behind schedule, caused by the lack of wind

The regatists have two days of navigation until the arrival at the port of Avilés crossing the Gulf of Vizacaya, in a very hard stage as it is a long and alone navigation in most. The organizers consider it reasonable that the fleet begins its arrival at the Asturian marina at about six o'clock on Tuesday day the first of August. The forecast is of soft south-west winds of up to ten knots, and a curly sea with a wave that should not exceed two meters high.

28 / 07 / 2017: The 67 ships from 11 countries of the Transgascogne to Vela will arrive in Aviles next Tuesday

The first ships of the class mini 6.50 participating in the Transgascogne 2017 race will arrive at the port of Avilés on Tuesday, August 1, according to the estimated schedule set by the organization. The 77 regatists on board the 67 ships will leave the French town of Les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday, July 30. The countries of origin of the different vessels are Spain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Croatia, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand and the Netherlands. After their arrival at the Asturian port, the sailors will remain in the city until Saturday, August 5, when they will return, in a second manga, to Les Sables d'Olonne.

All arranged in Les Sables d'Olonne, for Sunday to begin the race (Photo Christophe Favreau)

Of the 77 regatists, 55 will take part in single boats, while 12 will "two"; of the athletes 62 are men and 15 women. The winners of the last edition, Ian Lipinski and Albert Lagneau, will repeat participation in the individual and double categories respectively. The single-handedly winner of the Transgascogne usually wins the Mini Transat, a test that is held in October and that crosses the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to America. This has been achieved in all editions held except in 2009 and 2015. Among the Spanish participations is Anna Corbella, who, along with the British Dee Caffari, became the first Spanish regatist to turn the world to sail two, without scales or assistance, after sailing for more than 102 days in the Barcelona World Race 2010 / 11, on board the 'Gaes'.

This international test has a two-year classification character for the mythical Mini Transat. The name of the race is due to its tour of the Gulf of Vizcaya - in French it is named Golfe de Gascogne- but also to the kind of ships that participate in it: vessels of six meters and fifty centimeters. In the Transgascone, for the sake of the safety and control of the fleet, no more than 80 vessels can participate, grouped in four ways: series and proto, alone or two, with a total tour of about 700 miles through the Gulf of Vizcaya. The participating vessels are always controlled by five accompanying ships following the race. The test is organized by Les Sables d'Olonne Vendee-Course Au Large, the Avilés Marine Nautical Club, the Avilés City Council and the avilesina Harbour Authority. On previous occasions, the race took place in the marinas of A Coruña, Gijón / Xixón, Santander, Ribadeo and Luanco / Lluanco, localities that, during the course of the test and as this year will happen with Avilés, became the only contact with the land of the participants. Since its creation, the Transgascogne has received great names from the ocean candle, such as Isabelle Autissier, Thierry Dubois, Laurent el Yvan Bourgnon, Thomas Coville, MarcThercellin, Catherine Chabaud or Ellen Mc Arthur.