Mini Transat

The Mini-Transat

The Mini Transat - One of the greatest challenges in ocean sailing for 44 years!

The Class Mini has been challenging solo sailors every two years to this day. Starting from France (since 1985), the transatlantic race demands everything from its participants: strength, stamina, courage, skill, navigational expertise and the ability to think on one's feet.
A particular challenge is not only the size of the boat, but also the minimalistic equipment on board.

The challenges

The Mini Transat presents risks and dangers that should not be underestimated. Skippers encounter both human and technical challenges.

Weather

Weather

No weather routing via satellite is available during the race. The only way to predict the weather is by interpreting the clouds, etc. Rapid weather changes can therefore be difficult to foresee.

Boat

Boat

All difficulties arising on board (including those during the race) must be dealt with by the skipper alone. So boat and skipper must work together as a perfect unit.

Accidents on board

Accidents on board

As the skippers are on their own, they have to show real all-round talent in emergency situations and know how to handle themselves in case of accidents.

Qualification

Qualification

To qualify for the Mini Transat, skippers must sail 1,000 nautical miles single-handed, non-stop and accumulate at least 1,500 nautical miles by participating in Mini Regattas. For current races, there are 84 places, so it really is a case of first come-first served! The first skippers to meet the qualification requirements may register for the Mini Transat. Hugo had already qualified for the race across the Atlantic in July 2020.

Classification

Classification

The race takes place in two stages, which are judged together to decide the victor: Les Sables d'Olonne, France - Santa Cruz, Canary Islands
and Santa Cruz, Canaries - Saint Francois, Guadeloupe.

The boat with the fastest sailed real-time results wins!

Mini Transat Karte Mini Transat Karte

Sleep deprivation

Only about 4 - 5 hours of sleep per day

Minimalism at its purest

12.2 m² onboard living space

No assistance

No weather routing via satellite, no contact with the land

Crossing the Atlantic at breakneck speed

GO Kart of the seas! + 20 knots top speed

The participants of the Mini Transat 2021

The pre - entry list for the production boats classification is already complete. Participation is still possible in the prototype class only. The names of the skippers who have already qualified for the Mini Transat 2021 can be found here.

Image source: https://www.classemini.com/?mode=skippers

Frankreich Hugo PICARD

Hugo PICARD Production boats

Italien Francesco RENELLA

Francesco RENELLA Production boats

Frankreich Leo DEBRISSE

Leo DEBRISSE Production boats

Österreich Christian KARGL

Christian KARGL Production boats

Italien Luca del ZOZZO

Luca del ZOZZO Production boats

Frankreich Fabrice SORIN

Fabrice SORIN Production boats

Frankreich Pierre MEILHAT

Pierre MEILHAT Production boats

Frankreich Hugo LAURAS

Hugo LAURAS Production boats

Frankreich Anne-Gaël GOURDIN

Anne-Gaël GOURDIN Production boats

Frankreich Georges KICK

Georges KICK Production boats

Frankreich Cyril OMS

Cyril OMS Production boats

Frankreich Jean MARRE

Jean MARRE Production boats

Belgien Djemila TASSIN

Djemila TASSIN Production boats

Frankreich Gaël LEDOUX

Gaël LEDOUX Production boats

Frankreich Louis MAYAUD

Louis MAYAUD Production boats

Frankreich Genis HONTORIA NOGUEROLES

Genis HONTORIA NOGUEROLES Production boats

Frankreich Matthieu LACHARME

Matthieu LACHARME Production boats

Frankreich Ronan JEZEGOU

Ronan JEZEGOU Production boats

Spanien Felip MOLL MARQUES

Felip MOLL MARQUES Production boats

Frankreich Victor D'ERSU

Victor D'ERSU Production boats

Frankreich Thomas DE DINECHIN

Thomas DE DINECHIN Production boats

Spanien Ignasi TICO ARTALEJO

Ignasi TICO ARTALEJO Production boats

Frankreich Cécile ANDRIEU

Cécile ANDRIEU Production boats

Frankreich Jean CRUSE

Jean CRUSE Production boats

Frankreich Marine LEGENDRE

Marine LEGENDRE Production boats

Frankreich Julien HATIN

Julien HATIN Production boats

Spanien Carlos MANERA

Carlos MANERA Production boats

Frankreich Loic BLIN

Loic BLIN Production boats

Spanien Miguel RONDON

Miguel RONDON Production boats

Italien Alberto RIVA

Alberto RIVA Production boats

Italien Giammarco SARDI

Giammarco SARDI Production boats

Uruguay Federico WAKSMAN

Federico WAKSMAN Production boats

Italien Massimo VATTERONI

Massimo VATTERONI Production boats

Spanien Carlos OLSSON RIPOLL

Carlos OLSSON RIPOLL Production boats

Frankreich Nicolas GUIBAL

Nicolas GUIBAL Production boats

Spanien Jose LINARES

Jose LINARES Production boats

Deutschland Lina RIXGENS

Lina RIXGENS Production boats

Frankreich Pierre LEGENDRE

Pierre LEGENDRE Production boats

Frankreich Romain LE GALL

Romain LE GALL Production boats

Frankreich Pierre BLANCHOT

Pierre BLANCHOT Production boats

Frankreich Sophie MONIER

Sophie MONIER Production boats

Italien Andrea PENDIBENE

Andrea PENDIBENE Production boats

Belgien Nicolas FIRKET

Nicolas FIRKET Production boats

Belgien Léandre DE SCHRYNMAKERS

Léandre DE SCHRYNMAKERS Production boats

Frankreich Pierre BLANCHOT

Guillaume DELEMAR Production boats

Deutschland Lennart BURKE

Lennart BURKE Production boats

Australien Christiaan Durrant

Christiaan Durrant Production boats

Frankreich Tanguy BOUROULLEC

Tanguy BOUROULLEC Prototype boats

Frankreich Tim DARNI

Tim DARNI Prototype boats

Russland Irina GRACHEVA

Irina GRACHEVA Prototype boats

Großbritannien Piers COPHAM

Piers COPHAM Prototype boats

Frankreich Stéphan GUERIN

Stéphan GUERIN Prototype boats

Frankreich Thomas GRANDIN

Thomas GRANDIN Prototype boats

Frankreich Francois CHAMPOION

Francois CHAMPOION Prototype boats

Since 1977

Every 2 years across the Atlantic

Not everyone reaches the finish line!

Barely half of all participants make it to the finish line at the Mini Transat.

No prizes for the winner

It's all about the experience and thrill of sailing - that's the reward

One for all and all for one

All sailors should support each other, provided they don't put themselves in danger to do so.

The boats

Prototype boats

Prototype boats



The prototypes are a unique category of boats. They are fully equipped, state-of-the-art vessels, but each one is unique. This is mainly due to the relatively open measurement standards. The only really strict specification is that the overall length of the boat must be 6.50m. Due to these open regulations, the prototype class of the Classe Mini has developed into the ideal model to test new technologies and developments. Not only was the so-called scow bow (round bow) developed in this class, which is now standard on the Raison Maxi, but technologies that had already become established in the Amercias Cup or the Vandée Golbe (such as foils) were also tested here for the first time. Today, a high-performance prototype is still made of carbon, with daggerboards, ballast tanks. Some boats already use foils to bring the mini boats out of the water and increase their speed. In a nutshell, a high-tech machine both in technology and racing. The Class Mini 6.5 Prototypes.

Production boats

Production boats



Unlike prototypes, production boats have to meet stricter measurement standards . They must be easy to build, simple to handle, inexpensive to maintain and repair. By dividing into two classes, the idea is to limit costs and make the support accessible to the greatest number, so that owners of production boats can take part in all Mini Regattas. This makes this class the perfect entry-level into the offshore circus (even without big sponsors as supporters). Above all, it is the skill of the sailor here that makes the difference, with less focus on technology or money. Nevertheless, production boats can easily reach 18 knots downwind. So anything but boring!

Prototype boats Serienbau
Width 3 m 3 m
Hull length 6,5 m 6,5 m
Draft 2 m 1,60 m
Airdraft 12 m 11 m
Freeboard 0,75 0,75
Bowsprit Unrestricted Not allowed
Number of allowed bowsprits Unrestricted max. 2
Bouyancy Unrestricted At least 400 l
water ballast Unrestricted Not allowed
Lifting rudder Unrestricted Not allowed
Daggerboards 2 Not allowed
Mast Carbon Aluminium
Standing rigging Dyneema/other materials Wire/stainless steel wire
Individual parts and reinforcements Carbon Plastic, aluminium and stainless steel
Keel Canting keel Fixed keel
Storm sail 4 m² 4 m²
Number of sails on board * 7 7

* There is no rule that specifies the exact number of sail types (genoa, mainsail,...) on board. Which means, theoretically, 7 headsails would also be possible.

Over 17 designs are approved for the Classe Mini. Here, too, there is constant
development and change. The most popular designs currently include the following boats:

Pogo 1, Pogo 2, Pogo 3 Zéro, Super Calin, Tip-Top, Naus, Dingo, Ginto, Dingo 2,
Raison Maxi 6.50, Mistral, Nacira, RG 6,50, Argo, Ofcet 6,50, Vector


Hugo's race to the Mini Transat

In preparation for the Mini Transat in September 2021, Hugo will not only take part in various training sessions, but also in some Mini regattas:

The Classe Mini
Minimal living, maximal sailing!

Today, the Classe Mini counts about 300 members. That says a lot. Everyone from craftsmen to engineers, nurses to flight attendants, journalists and professional skippers, the small, 6.50 metre long boats appeal to anyone who loves hitting big waves, values a strong sense of community and, above all, enjoys those days when the wind blows and that feeling of absolute happiness that only the ocean can give! The Classe Mini is as diverse as its sailors and more demanding than almost any other boat class of this size.

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Apart from round - the - world races, I don’t know of any other race that is so extraordinary. There are as many possible winners as there are competitors at the start.

Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, winner of the Golden Globe race