The Mini Transat Mission podcast
Published on November 26th, 2023
In this episode of The Mini Transat Mission podcast, Peter Gibbons-Neff (USA) discusses the second leg of the 2023 race. He shares the experience of completely breaking off his rudder, stopping in Cape Verde for a 12-hour repair, and then spending the next two weeks racing across the Atlantic Ocean. To listen, click here.
Event information – Tracker – Facebook
After a one day postponement due to storms, the 24th edition of the Mini Transat, reserved for the Mini 6.50, the smallest offshore racing class at 21-feet, saw the first stage get underway on September 25, 2023.
Ninety solo sailors entered the 2023 Mini Transat with the competitors placed in divisions for prototype and production boats.
A notable proving ground for sailors with shorthanded aspirations, it is also test platform for new boat types, with competitors entering in the production division for manufactured boats and the prototype division for custom designs.
Held biennially, with limited participation for safety that includes strict qualification guidelines, the 4,050 nm course is divided in two parts with the combined elapsed time to determine the results:
September 25: Les Sables d’Olonne (France) to Santa Cruz de La Palma in the Canaries (Spain) – 1350 nm
October 28: Santa Cruz de La Palma in the Canaries (Spain) to Saint-François in Guadeloupe – 2700 nm
Source: Versace Sailing Management