The race

Races' school, first step to become a professional skipper, life's adventure, will to live at the closest to the ocean for over a month of sailing, challenge of vanquishing the sun, solitude, thirst, hunger and fear of sailing without any external assistance, accustom the body to sleep by 20 minutes slots, optimize a 4m3 " flat " with see view, kitchen, bedroom, and integrated toilets… The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6, 50 is all that and remains THE out of the common race!
32 years old already!

Thirty-two years after the race was created, the 17th edition of The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50 will leave on Sunday the 13th of September 2009 to Salvador de Bahia (Brazil). Previously known as Mini-Transat, this now legendary event brings together every two years, skippers of all backgrounds, (small ones, large ones and future large ones) in a spirit made of solidarity, and mutual respect with all nationalities represented! The Charente Maritime / Bahia Transat 6.50 race is the most international solo race with no less than 12 nationalities represented. This 17th edition will bring together American, Australian, English, Spanish, Italian, Swiss, South African, French, German, Portuguese, Norwegian and Brazilian...

A man, a boat and the Ocean...

" Confronting the Atlantic on a skiff " This is the right picture of the race. Daniel Gilard, the first races' winner on his Petit Dauphin, didn't really know what to expect when he decided to integrates' Bob Salmons' race in 1977. But the challenge is real and the Mini Transat will then acquire its worth over the years in the lee of Route du Rhum, English Transat and other Vendée Globe, the final destination for some of this Mini experience. Single-handed without assistance race on a 6,50 meters long boat across the Atlantic Ocean: these are the ingredients of that incredible transat. The formula didn't change since the beginning, as we guess by reading these words from Daniel Gilard (from the book " Petit Dauphin sur la peau du diable " (Editions Julliard): " Bob Salmon has split the race into two legs. The first, called selective, is supposed to permit those that don't feel physically, mentally or technically ready to renounce, abandon and leave back home without feeling ashamed or disrepute. "

To each his race

Dream of victory for some but dream of crossing the Atlantic for all! And if the mindset of 'one for all and all for one' is the daily basis for mini sailors, everyone has its objectives. Optimized boat for winning for a few favorites, others drop the lines to experience the adventure of a lifetime, or even the adventure of a family with moving with wife and children a few meters from the dock. The Charente Maritime / Bahia Transat 6.50 is the school of humility and openness.

Men, women and...

Is the Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia victim of its success? Yes it is! As a consequence, there will be 84 skippers lining up this year (series and prototypes boats). They could have been a hundred, if we consider the attraction that the Transatlantic has on the amateurs' and semi-professionals skippers. And all the generations are represented, youngsters and less young, men and women. For you information: there will be seven women at the start on the 13th of September.

Budget will ...

'Room with a view for rent, low-budget' ... That could be the announcement of a minist looking for a budget! It must be said that 6.50 meters long hull offer a very few space for a living. 4m3 inside is not conducive to the delusions of grandeur. Stove to heat freeze dried food, a small card table to deploy the key to the right path, sails stowed in their bags, kit in a waterproof box, small reserve of fresh water, ballast compensating balance, VHF glued to the bulkhead, pencils and compass armed with Velcro, pants and jacket watch piled in a corner still wet, food boxes carefully orchestrated, passport and papers of the boat at hand, cap and sunscreen at body ... but where is the bed? To live aboard a Mini is a true priesthood. And what about those who sleep on board at the dock for lack of 'hotel budget' during the months of preparation? You really need to see it and live it to believe it ...

The first race for talents...

They all participated and admit that the transatlantic is the 1st world's race to start single-handed racing. That race is subtitled: " Get your Mini first! "It must be said that the predecessors are famous ones and the list of registrants can get you dizzy: Ellen Mc Arthur, Isabelle Autissier, Catherine Chabaud, Yves Parlier, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, Michel Desjoyaux, Loïck and Bruno Peyron, Yvan and Laurent Bourgnon, Roland Jourdain, Sébastien Josse, Thomas Coville, Lionel Lemonchois, Halvard Mabire... They are all here! " On water, I really learned what solitude is because I had no way to communicate. When I finished the race I realized that I had made it by myself as a real solo guy and that everything had been fine without asking myself any questions. We become tough to pain... And crazy ", Thierry Dubois, winner in 1993 on Amnesty International.

Left to their own devices ...

To start, each sailor must meet several validation criterias: a boat meeting the gauge standards but also have a "history" with the boat acquired in races and sailing qualifications. But if the security matters have been increasing in recent years, what predominates in The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 is always and is still the spirit of it. No routing, no external assistance, the 84 sailors are left to their own devices for an initiatory and unique Atlantic crossing. Also, every skipper must be able to reach by his own means a port if problem on board, there is.

 They said it:

Daniel Gilard, winner in 1977: (…)"it is because the ocean when the storm is blowing, is covered in dark ridges that old sailors said they took" the skin of the devil. "It was dirty weather for men at sea this bad weather, I suffer for eleven days, since the 8th of October 1977. On that day, with 25 other competitors, I took the start of the Mini-Transat single-handed race organized by a little crazy British, Bob Salmon, and reserved for sailboats whose length does not exceed 6.50 meters. In this first edition of the Mini-Transat, little had been said. A sort of hostile silence, contemptuous has covered the race. Everybody was against ... In short, we all run to the bloodshed. In any part, they prophesied of shipwrecks and drowning. We are fools to face the Atlantic to face our nut shell ... "(Excerpt from Petit Dauphin on the skin of the Devil - Editions Julliard).

Loick Peyron, 26th in 1979: (...) "even if although the Mini was less an entrance examination than it is today. I discovered the hull of my boat in a field at La Rochelle: Alcor (the name of a small star of the Big Dipper), a Cordelle plan designed for lakes. I left without knowing how to do a line of position, with a plastic sextant and the manual. For crown it all, my superb digital solar chrono broke down in the first wave: I was deprived of longitude. At the stopover, we feel as being the crew of a single vessel. Daniel Gilard was a senior, I drank his words. With a hull poorly suited to down wind, I finished fifth in the second stage, amazed to discover Antigua. Without boots, with a half oilskin and no money, I learned the precariousness of the job: the big budget came fifteen years later. "

Yves Parlier, winner in 1985: "I followed the beginning of the Mini-Transat in Voiles & Voiliers. I lived the first, I was fascinated by the second and I almost disputed the third on a muscadet from a sailing school. I even met VDH to ask for advice. I chose Jean Berret (architect) because Lucas had just beaten him, I felt that he was motivated to revenge. I was finishing my studies in composite materials and I knew the industry around Bordeaux: the construction of Aquitaine started in November 1984. From the hull model, I made everything by myself. I was forced to leave for Jura to make Nomex plates for the bridge. I finished in July 1985. This experience taught me a lot and then served for the 60 feet Aquitaine Innovations I have learned to manage a project. The Mini is also enriching the solo culture. It is by far the race, which leaves me the best memory. At the stop, we were inseparable, a true family. "

Laurent Bourgnon, 2nd in 1987: "It is true sailing, the one I love. It is accessible to all. With a small budget and a big will you can contest. And above all, the atmosphere is exceptional. Among the competitors there is a real friendship. We speak, we give advice. After that sailing loses its freshness..."

Isabelle Autissier, 3rd in 1987: "I was returning from a year of cruising with a return solo over the Atlantic: I wanted to test my technique in a race. Without the budget, I rented a wooden proto who already had a Mini on the counter. The atmosphere was nice, there was a real brotherhood. The Mini-Transat made me crazy, a total revelation. The arrival in the Canaries at the end of the day, was magic Yet I was exhausted by 43 hours helming ... At the start, I was not a competitor ... at the end, I became one. During the crossing, I realized that there was in me a real-hidden-crustiest to run the boat. The other benefit of the Mini-Transat is to start gently with sponsors because they do not take risks. Once I gained my third rank, they asked me to continue and I could continue on a Figaro. Without the Mini, I would have been back to my job; I would be in the EMA (École maritime and aquaculture) or elsewhere ... but not at the helm a 60 feet! "

Philippe Vicariot, winner in 1989: "The Mini-Transat is a history of child, a child dream. That's life. On arrival, there are only happy people. In comparison, the Figaro is a history of adult. From the beginning, I was affraid: I crossed for the first time the Atlantic, I discovered the single-handed race ... I knew by heart all three harbingers of a cyclone in which the temperature of water. I had a thermometer on board ... but I never dared to use it, I do not know why I won. Because I maybe understood what were the ingredients for success. The proceeds of a Mini is fairly simple: we need a fast boat and not to break. So I spent my time trying to be reliable. "

Catherine Chabaud, 12th in 1991: "It was my first single-handed transatlantic race. It is a magical race from all points of view. For sailors first, it is a great school. You get out all grown up. Personally, I had my most thrilling sensations. "

Marc Thiercelin, 13th in 1991: "It was my second transat. It was a revealing. Crossing the Atlantic alone is not easy. On a 6.50 it is even more difficult. These monohulls are small; the waves are still the same height! "

Michel Desjoyeaux, 31st in 1991: "After two weeks, I found myself alone in the middle of the ocean. I did not know where my opponents were. We had only a small VHF no longer useful. I had a psychologically difficult time. I went to a competition and I found myself in the position of an adventurer. Cut off from the outside world, I was not prepared! Whether on a prototype or a series boat, you have to cross the Atlantic and it is never without risk. In addition, humanly, this transat is ideal for those who dream of a beautiful and great adventure and is always revealing to those who want more. It is almost necessary in a carrier. "

Thierry Dubois, winner in 1993: "The Mini is a test that all sailors care about. In 1983, photos of the arrival in Antigua made me delirious. I wanted to participate in this race. I am become preparer: I worked at the AMCO site and I was sailing on a cruise Muscadet ... The synthesis of these elements has led me to the Mini. I learned how to lead a project by working hard. On the water, I became aware of the true loneliness because I was deprived of means of communication. On arrival, I realized that I had managed the race as a true loner, I had to sail the boat without asking myself any questions. We become tough to pain and crazy… I think the joy of having been successful brings together the "Minists" and share common values. So much so that we make fun of those who have not disputed it, saying "Get your Mini first! "

Yvan Bourgnon, winner in 1995: "You are alone with the ocean. There is no constant radio contact. You cannot call Mom. If you want to know what you are able of, this is the race that you need. "

Ellen MacArthur, 15th in 1997: "It gave me the taste of open sea. I will never forget it."

Thomas Coville, 11th in 1997: "There are times when you ask yourself questions if ever there was someone who sees you. You walk on your boat, naked, bearded, in a half of a state! I greatly learned during the first step. I broke a rudder and my spinnaker head and it calmed me down for the second stage. I feel like I've learned more between the first and second stage thzn many other courses. Being alone? I really enjoyed it. Much more than I thought. But sailing alone alone makes people beamnesiac on bad times. When you arrive, you have the impression that everything was fine. "