1,000 Nautical Mile Qualification Start

Testing the Boat and Myself

Today I depart for a 1,000 nautical mile solo sail on Terminal Leave.  This will test the boat and me before competing in longer races next year.

This qualification sail is required for all Classe Mini competitors prior to the level A ocean races, which includes the Mini Transat.  By starting this passage now, it is one less qualification sail I have to complete next summer before racing to the Azores.  Once I finish the race from France to the Azores and back next year, I am prequalified for the 2023 Mini Transat.  This is all part of the longer road to the ultimate goal.

One thousand miles…alone…on a 21 foot sailboat…with no support boats or fellow mini sailors to provide a slight peace of mind when facing the open ocean.  This will test me both mentally and physically.  According to the Classe Mini rules, there is one qualification course in the Atlantic and one in the Mediterranean.  The Atlantic course consists of three marks that must be rounded.  Even though most boats start from France, there is nothing preventing a boat starting from Ireland.  Two marks are off France near La Rochelle and the third mark is off the south east coast of Ireland.

This sail could take anywhere from 7-10 days depending on weather.  Current optimistic routings are showing 7.5 days, but I have certainly brought enough food and water for two weeks.  My greatest concern are the hurricanes brewing in the Atlantic, so I am hoping to complete the sail before serious weather arrives…it is going to be close according to the current forecast!

During this sail I will have the full safety equipment load out as I would crossing the Atlantic Ocean (thanks to my awesome sponsors!).  I also am required to receive weather updates over my Single Side Band (SSB) radio receiver and find my position through celestial navigation (in addition to using my GPS).  Once this sail is completed, I have to mail in my log book, charts, math for celestial navigation as well as email pictures of me rounding the marks and an audio recording of a weather forecast.  The Classe Mini organization is not messing around with making sure the boats and sailors are well prepared before the biggest Mini races.

Make sure to follow my progress here with my LIVE tracker!