Mini Transat
Mini Transat-is a transatlantic (Transat) regatta of small yachts with a length of 6.5 metres conducted alone. So in short you can characterize this mad race. The first such regatta took place in 1977 years, since then in every odd year, the sailors of lone wolves out meet to race through the ocean.
Idea – Low cost, victory for the best.
Regatta Mini Transat then were a response to less richered sailor of loners for the professional transatlantic racing machines racers years of 60tych/70tych such as eg. OSTAR.
Ojcowi Mini Transat British sailor Bobiowi Salmon was the idea of transatlantic regatta in which each participant has a chance to win without having a large budget and hence a large yacht, modern technology, The most modern yacht project greatly increased the chances of winning.
Bob suggested a yacht length of Max 6.5 m, he considered that such length is entirely sufficient and he was right! Even before 1977, many yachts not larger than 6.5 metres opłynęło all seas and oceans in most cases with a double crew. That's how it started…
No prize Regatta
The first regatta was held in 1977, from Plymouth, England, through the Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where there was a halfway point regatta to Antigua on the other side of the ocean in the Caribbean. This route was quite comfortable due to air circulation in the northern hemisphere and in most of the time the riders were able to sail with the wind, but required to start the regatta in autumn/late autumn depending on the hurricane season. Bob did not expect a large turnout however, already at the first regatta received more than 300 preliminary entries from 29 countries.
In the first edition of the regatta took Kazimierz Kuba Jaworski on a yacht spaniel with an experimental takielunkiem designed by Caroff-A, without a grotto for it with giant genes. At that time known sails of the type Gennaker. He took the perfect 2nd place, until today no pole even came close to such a huge sporting success.
Transat 6.50 1977,
October 9th, Stage 1-Penzance-Tenerife: 9/25
12 November, Stage 2-Tenerife-Antigua: 2/27 with time 23 days 05h 45 min.
Following the rules of the regatta of the maximum length of the yacht riders began to build units specially under the Mini Transat. They had unlimited construction possibilities, however, in the limited size of the yacht-box rule. The regatta naturally divided into two subclasses of a series of yachts, eg. Anderson 22, Muscadet and prototypes and this division is still functioning today. The yachts are characterized by a smaller "box" to which you can upchać the yacht and the top of the imposed materials to build the hull. In addition, in order for the yacht to be qualified as a yacht series the shipyard must build 10 identical hulls. PROTO yachts have a higher mast and more immersion. They can have a swinging ballast and a carbon-fibre plating and mast. In my estimation the Proto yachts are faster than about 6-9% of the series. Current regulations division into classes can be found at the Classe Mini 6.50 link below
After a number of popular editions of Bob Salmon in 1984, he gave ideas to Frenchman Jean Luc Garnier who was a racing enthusiast from the very beginning. It was a turning point because Jean had a development plan, still in the same year the Bandaged Class association "Voiles 6.50" and moved the start from England to the coast of the Gulf of Biscay, which significantly reduced the time frame of the regatta duration. The "Ministów" community grew from year to year as encouraged sailors to more activity, born a new regatta for yachts up to 6.5 meters long.
- 1985 Mini Fastnet
- 1986 La Mini-Max regatta in the Mediterranean Sea
- 1988 La Transgascogne
- 1991 Le Challenge Mini
Over the years, they were a regatta for yachts up to 6.5 meters long, yet no one thought of the mini-type yacht 6.5 until the year 1994. Voiles 6.50 was divided into two structures-Voiles 6.50, which was held by the mini Transat and Classe Mini, which dealt with technical issues and ZRZESZANIEM sailors. This is what the Mini 6.50 class today is known for
In 1998, Voiles 6.50 did not want to organize the regatta, the Classe Mini had to prepare an offer and surrender the organizations of the race in independent hands, however, with respect for the spirit of Regatta and all the rules. This character is used today.
In 2001, the class introduced a small revolution by changing the route and the exact finish line. This time, the sailors were quite challenged to finish the regatta on the other side of the equator in Salvador de Bahia on the coast of Brazil.
Despite the over 40 years, the idea of Bob has been preserved and is the greatest value, the sailors are racing for pleasure almost on identical yachts, which makes the best skipper wins. Budgets start from 100 000 zł this gives you the opportunity to establish oceanic rivalries and opens accessibility for almost anyone who dreams of owning their own ocean unit. In the classroom, we can meet carpenters, nurses, engineers, gardeners, doctors and retirees. The Idea is to be as good as the class keeps the initial rules.
Classe Mini, as an association mainly brings mini 6.50 enthusiasts to all who love this pocket rocket, all those who want to slip in the waves of the ocean, those who are waiting for the wind in the silence, those who face problems Budgets, those who head on new solutions to improve the performance of the yacht, those who want to meet their goals and those who have known the moments of happiness and satisfaction that gave the ocean and the sea.
I recommend visiting the class page:
Great mines of knowledge and history of the Mini 6.50, but also of other yachts racers eg. Figaro, IMOCA, Multi 50-60, Class 40 can be found on the French side: