The Mini 6.50

Two boats categories participate to The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50 2009. Custom-build and unique the prototypes are very present since 1977. And if Petit Dauphin, the first winner was a Serpentaire series boat, the ranking is now led by the innovating 6,50 meters created by renowned architects or by those that will soon be! "It is the floating Concours Lepine" said Marc Thiercelin. The small monohulls are real floating laboratories of which each innovation is now used by the Open 60 class. That is why; these architects couldn't be indifferent to these boats. At Marc Lombard cabinet, we don't hide the interest for the 6,50 meters monohull: " Mini and 60 feet are linked. All the careers start on a Mini, both for skippers and for architects. The low budget permits to try some crazy stuff but the conception is similar. " That is how the carbon masts, the double rudder-heads, the pendulum keel - to quote only those - were created and tested while racing.  Who could imagine a better way to test innovations on a race through the Atlantic than on a 6.50 meters boat that represents the lowest budget possible to test the material on board?

Focus on prototypes...

Since 1977, the prototypes have evolved to become real racing over-sailed machines able to head precisely on the wind and feel downwind like overpowering luges. With almost 50m ² upwind and 100m ² downwind, prototypes want to gain weight while concentrating the maximum weight in the floor and the bulge. Center weight and low it, increases the sails surface while reducing the wetted surface and maintaining an efficient anti-drift plan. The Minis are a great playground for architects and sailors who make their own toys. As for innovations, still remember that Minis have contributed to the adoption of tilting keels, ballast (water being counter-balanced to one side or the other of the boat), the lateral drift (so to optimize the anti-drift plan), double rudders, the bowsprit for genakers and asymmetric spinnakers, the main sails with large roach ... "An architect who only considers the 60 feet could not know everything and will miss many things!" said Marc Lombard, the father of many Open 60 whose reputation is very well established.

Focus on Series boats...

Majority in the first Mini Transat, the series boats were at that time called Serpentaire, Muscadet then Coco, Super Calin. And Pogo 1 and 2 that have energized this category in the class ... Which sailor has never sailed on the legendary Muscadet designed by Philippe Harlé and distributed to over 300 units ... Coco took over and then we were all wide-eyed when we saw this small 6.50 doubling on the wind an Arpège or a First 30 which were more heavy ... Since 1995, the Pogo 1, designed by Pierre Rolland has boosted the series . Number of prototypes met, in this time, their match in this boat looking like a 60 feet .Now, we must monitor the Pogo 2 from Finot who trust the first places among those are The Charente Maritime / Bahia Transat 6.50’s. And if other series have emerged in recent years, you must know that ten identical copies must be constructed from the same yard for the serie to be recognized by the Mini Class.