For years now I have been intrigued by these teeny, tiny ocean racers. Built to a box rule, these 6.5 meter (21') boats have been the jumping off point for many of today's great offshore skippers. The Mini Transat Regatta was organized in 1977 as an offshore race for those on a budget. The rules of the race were quite simple. Sail as fast as you can across the ocean on a boat no larger than 6.5M! The race has emerged to be a design test bed for hull shapes, appendages, rigging and sails. Canting keels are the norm in the Prototype class as are dagger boards and fore and aft moving keels. Navigation skills are a must as no GPS plotters or laptops are allowed. Cell phones and PDA's are also banned! The Prototypes have become quite expensive with full carbon construction, rotating carbon spars with PBO standing rigging, canting keels and water ballast. The Classe Mini (now based in France) allows for another class to keep the costs down for those on a budget (most Proto's are fully sponsored). The Production (Series) Class fits into the box rule but with limitations on materials used for construction and sails. Series boats are also limited to three appendages (Two rudders and a fixed keel). To qualify as a Series boat the builder must have completed a minimum of 10 boats that are all identical in construction, materials, etc. Presently, there are 10 production boats that have been ratified by class mini.
Until quite recently, all Series boats were built overseas. Just this past year the tooling for the Pogo 2 was shipped from France to Los Angeles, Ca where the first two US built series boats were completed and launched. I say they are the first Series boats but they are not the first minis built here! There are a few start ups that are giving it a go and marketing American (North and South) built Series boats. They just need to get 10 built and have them ratified. This is not an easy feat as these boats are going to cost upwards of $50,000 to get to sail away condition. There have been a few Proto's built here as well. Some have even competed in the Mini Transat and placed quite well!Still reading? Wow!!! Okay, so you ask yourself why I am writing about these boats? The class is slowly taking a foothold in North America. Regattas such as the Bermuda 1-2 and Singlehanded Transpac are allowing them entry. Actually, more and more regattas are extending open arms to the class providing they can get enough boats to the starting line. My goal is to possess one of these boats and compete in this years running of the Bermuda 1-2. More on the shopping experience coming soon!
Here are a couple of links to keep you occupied until my next post!
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