The Classe Mini Season is in Full Swing
Started a podcast, supported competitors from the shore, and focused on Mini Transat preparations
The past few weeks went different from the original plan this season, but that is alright. Instead of racing in the Pornichet Select or Mini en Mai races this month, I shifted my focus on entirely preparing for the big race…the Mini Transat!
As I have mentioned before, participation in the Mini fleet has exploded over the past two years. There are far too many interested skippers than spots available within each race here on the Atlantic coast of France. While watching from shore is disappointing, it provides other opportunities for preparations and reduces wear on the boat. See more about that below where half the fleet dropped out of the Mini en Mai race!
There is so much more I want to discuss with you all about this journey, that can be challenging to fully capture in blog posts or through social media updates. Therefore, I have started a podcast! As of now it is on Spotify and a few other platforms….still working through the initial set up.
Check out my new podcast!
The Mini Transat Mission: An Offshore Sailing Podcast
Mini en Mai Race
On 9 May, 100 Minis crossed the starting line for the Mini en Mai race out of La Trinité-sur-Mer. Normally a 500 nm solo race, this year it was shortened to a little to about 450 nm due to strong weather. The start was a close reach but as the wind shifted the boats quickly sheeted in for a close hauled course, so there was a mix of code 0s and jibs off the line. Usually, the boats race inshore first around Quiberon Bay for a few hours before heading offshore. However, due to the impending weather, the course took the fleet offshore as fast as possible. The confined space of a bay and navigational hazards become increasingly dangerous as the wind speeds increase, so heading out into the much larger Bay of Biscay is usually a better option.
The forecasts for the first night were showing gusts to 30 kts, but in reality the fleet saw sustained 35 kt winds with gusts over 45 kts. All of this while beating into the wind, in the dark, and with a growing sea state. This caused many breakages and torn sails throughout across the Minis. Autopilots failed and various fittings were ripped out of boats or off their rigs. At least three boats broke their masts entirely and I heard there was even a helicopter rescue conducted. Multiple boats were rescued with a tow by local services in the area as well. By the end of the first night about half the fleet retired from the race with boats stopping in Concarneau, Lorient, or returning to La Trinité-sur-Mer.
Minis in gray on the race tracker retired from the race, most pulled into Concarneau, Lorient, or returned back to La Trinité-sur-Mer
Since I am based out of La Trinité-sur-Mer, I was able to lend a hand to a few friends to make sure they were ready to race leading up to it. What I was not expecting, however, was so many boats retiring the first night. I spent most of that evening/early morning helping boats safely tie up to the dock. Some were towed, others sailed in, but every docking situation was a challenge with the wind direction, tide, and small maneuver area around world class ocean racing boats (an ULTIM trimaran and Class 40s). Not only were many of the boats limping back to port, the skippers themselves were beyond exhausted. With the start earlier that morning, many skippers barely got much sleep the night before due to studying the weather, final preparations, and attending required race organization events.
After the first night, the fleet continued to struggle in sailing upwind through the Raz de Sein towards Douarnenez Bay. Once rounding this northern most mark, the fleet experienced a quick downwind sail to the south east. There was a significant separation across the fleet caused from surviving the first night of the race.
By the end of Mini en Mai, only half the fleet finished the race. While I was initially disappointed to watch the race from the side lines, I was happy not to have put Terminal Leave in that situation. Do I think the boat and myself could handle those conditions? Absolutely and without a doubt. However, with winds gusting to 45 kts it adds wear to the boat and gear. You just never know, on the off chance, what might fail, causing more problems on the boat or lead to problems down the road (like in the Mini Transat). I have been in those conditions before with the boat and the additional training value of one night racing in a preservation mode would not have been very beneficial. Congratulations to everyone who completed the race, I am sure it is one they will never forget.
Want to support my mission to race in the Mini Transat to help raise awareness for U.S. Patriot Sailing?
We are just 4 months away from the start of the Mini Transat! There are still significant costs to prepare the boat and get to the starting line. Every donation goes a long way to supporting this mission, THANK YOU!
