New Year, New Races
Get ready for an exciting 2022 Mini racing season!
Planed Race Miles: 3,920 nm
As we move into 2022, we have an exciting season ahead of us! The preliminary race schedule was recently published and I plan on competing again this summer in France. This is part of the long qualification process for the transatlantic race in 2023 called the Mini Transat.
The major off-year race for the Mini class is from France to the Azores and back, called the SAS. This 2,600 nm long solo race, spanning two stages with a stop on the island, is the highlight for the year.
The plan is to sail over 4,000 nm this year, racing most of these miles solo. This will certainly be the decisive test for my boat Terminal Leave and me. By qualifying for and racing in the SAS, I will be further qualified for the Mini Transat the following year.
Most races throughout the season reach the maximum number of boats allowed, varying from about thirty up to eighty. Therefore, skippers must submit a race preference sheet in January and by late February we are told which races we can enter (except for the SAS and Mini Transat). This helps balance the waiting lists for each race. I have submitted my preferences and believe I have a good chance of executing this plan.
The Plan
In late April I will fly to France and move back to La Trinité-sur-Mer for the summer. This small port town on France’s Atlantic coast is where my Mini is stored this winter. Sitting in a lot next to other Classe Minis, she is under a cover and waiting to be launched this Spring.
La Trinité-sur-Mer, France
Mini en Mai is my first planned race of the season. This 500 nm solo race starts and finishes in La Trinté-sur-Mer, perfect for kicking off the year in local waters. However, this race will not be easy because it traverses some challenging areas, such as the Raz de Sein, Île de Ré, and a large portion of the Bay of Biscay. The Raz de Sein was the difficult stretch of water I experienced my first night offshore in France last year near the entrance to the Bay of Douarnenez. (See 3,400 nm blog post). The Île de Ré is just off the coast from La Rochelle and connected by a bridge. Last time I sailed through this area during the 1,000 nm solo qualifier, it was relatively calm. However, this narrow body of water could be much more arduous in May. Finally, anyone racing in the Bay of Biscay over the course of a spring week is likely to encounter strong wind and squalls. Even though I am more familiar with these waters now, I can never let my guard down.
The Trophée Marie-Agnés Péron (MAP) is a 220 nm solo race out of Douarnenez. This will be a relatively quick race in the Bay of Biscay near the coast. It will serve as a good opportunity to focus on boat performance and speed test with my fellow competitors on this narrow course. Most importantly, this will launch me over the 1,500 nm requirement of total class races to qualify for the Mini Transat!
Just a few days later, the Mini-Fastnet Race also departs from Douarenez. It is a serious adventure at 600 nm non-stop and double-handed. This race traverses the entrance of the English Channel and the Celtic Sea, rounds the iconic Fastnet Rock, and returns to Douarenez. The Fastnet Rock is just off Ireland’s southern coast and known for its harsh weather conditions. This area is only about 45 nm southwest of Kinsale where I sailed out of last summer, so excited to navigate the Celtic Sea again. This will be my first time rounding the Fastnet Lighthouse, sitting high on the rock. Looking forward to sharing this experience with everyone.
Fastnet Lighthouse, Ireland
By mid-July, I will have sailed over 1,600 nm and well prepared for the longest race of the year. The Les Sables-d’Olonne-Azores-Les Sables-d’Olonne (SAS) is a 2,600 nm solo race with two stages. This is a serious ocean race with the closest mainland being Portugal, about 800 nm to the east of the Azores.
With the exception of the SAS, most of the racing will be on familiar waters from last season. However, each race remains a challenge. They are all new to me with different courses of varying lengths. While I feel more confident going into this season knowing the boat has raced before, there is still much to be done in preparation.
Thank you to my sponsors and Supporters for making this all possible: Fawcett Boat Supplies, Switlik Survival Products, Gill Marine, New England Ropes, Yankee Marine, Harken, Great Clips, AYC Foundation
While I have the boat and initial equipment set up to race this season, I continue to seek additional sponsors and donors who believe in this campaign. It will take significant resources to cover the administrative and logistical costs going forward. Introductions to possible supporters always helps!
