Mini Transat 6.50 - 2011 Race

2011 Race

• Win: The second leg, and with it, the race, was won by David Raison with his self-designed Teamwork Evolution (October 30, 2011). While he beat the record for this leg by only 23 minutes, he was a full day ahead of the second place winner, and two days ahead of the pack. He sailed his mini 26 days, 3 hours, 9 minutes and 40 seconds at an average of 6.8 knots. He is pictured right in this photo after winning. He stated "what a joy to be here and to see you all! This has been the toughest race of all" (quote).

Raison's mini is unusual in having blunt, scow-type, bow rather than a sharp one as every other mini has (photo, commentary). He said that he felt that he had to slow down his mini during parts of the race, yet continued gaining on the other minis. He speculated that it may be a while before his design innovation reaches larger open classes.

• 2nd and 3rd: Thomas Normand (Financière de l'échiquier) and Bertrand Delesne sailing Zone Large followed Raison.

• Second leg: The second, much longer, leg started October 13 and promised to be better suited to minis: down- and off-wind surfing. But within a few days (Oct. 15), the wind picked up causing at least 9 boats crippling damage, including to solar- and fuel-cells that shuts down the necessary auto-pilot as minis are solos. So, the list of DNFs could be upward of a dozen by now. Alarmingly, winds of 25 knots should not be crippling, as minis can go that fast. Fortunately there are no reported injuries or drownings, but a least a few dismastings.
• First leg: Sébastien Rogues sailing Eole Generation (prototype sub-class) arrived first in Maderia on October 4 averaging 5.4 knots, but Benoît Mariette sailing Odalys Vacances was the first stage winner for production boats. The winds were tricky for the first leg, and it was an upwind battle for the most part. (Minis are not upwind vessels. Being miniatures of the other open classes that follow the trade winds around the world—but factors shorter, they typically have a "pie slice" shape that makes them fall over towards the leeward bow when close to the wind giving a bad angle such as cat boats have; they also tend to slam violently into on-coming waves. Please note that the 2011 winner sailed a uniquely shaped scow-type vessel (see above) that may alter this equation.
• Start: Charente-Maritime, France on September 25, with a stop in Madeira, and going on to Bahia, Brazil.