2015 Mini Transat

[jack_sparrow]

The Mini Transat 2015 fleet will leave Douarnenez, France in 2 weeks time on September 19th and race solo across the Atlantic to Guadaloupe in the Caribbean via the Canaries.

There are a lot of interesting individual team websites, social media pages etc. Race site here:

http://www.minitransat-ilesdeguadeloupe.fr/?lang=en

 

[jack_sparrow]

I will try and regularly post brief details of individual competitors, particularly those who are non French and or lesser known.

Name: Nikki Curwen

Country: Britain

Boat: Borèal Prototype

Intro: Nikki was 12 when her father took part in the the Mini Transat in 2001. An ex Artemis Offshore Academy member she missed out qualifying in 2013. Nikki then launched her own two year campaign towards this years Mini Transat.

Web: http://nikkicurwen.com/

YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/user/nyx722

 

[jack_sparrow]

It is tough just getting to this years start line for most competitors, maybe this one more than most.

Name: Katrina Ham

Nationality: Australian

Boat: Pogo 2 Production

Intro: Only Australian competitor, only Southern hemisphere competitor and one of only four women in the race. Katrina moved to France in 2012 to pursue her solo ocean racing dreams. She didn't have a boat, a sponsor or a job. Started the 2013 Mini Transat however during an organised massed delivery to the restart her boat was lost after it was towed into breaking waves by an official support boat.

Katrinas story: http://www.fosburit.com/en/projets/projet/mt-2015-unfinished-business-for-aussie-katrina-ham/

Website: http://www.katrinahamracing.com/

Twitter: @KatrinaHam

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatrinaHamRacing

 

[r.finn]

That sounds about right. I've had an official support boat tow me onto a shoal and leave me there for over 3 hours! Fortunately Classe Mini has the gift of self forgiveness.

 

[jack_sparrow]

Name: Andrea Fornaro

Country: Italian

Boat: Argo 650 Production

Intro: Fresh from Melges 32 Worlds as a member of the Vitamina Sailing Team, Olympic Star sailor, this is Andrea's his first M-T. While not a experienced offshore sailor, his goal is to become the first Italian to win the Mini Transat.

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/andreafornarominitransat

Web: http://www.andreafornaro.it/

 

[jack_sparrow]

Some Race Statistics

- 74 Participants.

- 28 Prototype Boats.

- 46 Production Boats.

- 16 Countries: AUS, BEL, CHN, ESP, EST, FRA, GBR, GER, HUN, IRL, ITA, NED, POL, POR, RUS, SUI.

- 4 Women / 70 Men.

- Average Age: 33 years.

- The Youngest: 22 years at the time of departure, HEREU Julien (FRA) and VLAMYNCK Quentin (FRA).

- The Oldest: 56 years at the time of departure, Lizancos Carlos (ESP).

- They are 54 first time participates and 20 repeat offenders totalling 24 Mini Transats between them.

- Non French Winners to Date: Norton Smith (USA) in 1979 and Yvan Bourgnon (SUI) in 1995.

 

[jack_sparrow]

Name: Thomas (Tom) Dolan

Country: Ireland

Boat: Pogo 2 Production

Intro: Raised on a farm, far from the sea, was never part of a yacht club, never went on sailing holidays and didn't get lessons as a child. Starting at the bottom he worked as a volunteer with the Glenans sailing school. He has been working professionally in sailing since 2007, in Ireland, France and the Caribbean.

Web: http://www.tdsailing.com

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/tdsailing

 

[jb5]

Can't wait for this race to start. Definitely a highlight of the year.

 

[jack_sparrow]

Name: Lizzy Foreman

Country: Great Britain

Boat: Pogo 2 Production

Intro: Sailed since the age of three, took to racing progressing through dinghy classes. Selection for the British Keelboat Academy (BKA) in 2010 marked the start of a journey where she has sailed in and managed various teams. Abandoned her job and moved to Lorient to train including cycling and triathlon events, which gives an indication how serious she is.

Web: http://www.lizzyracing.com

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/LizzyOffshoreRacing

 

[nemier]

Jack,

Great posts - thanks.

Please keep'em coming.

 

[jack_sparrow]

Name: Dominik Lenk

Country: German

Boat: Magnen 2001 Prototype

Intro: Eight years old, learnt to sail on an Optimist, moved to the Netherlands where he delivered newspapers to buy his first dinghy at twelve. Read then about the Mini-Transat and that has remained a goal ever since. Young sailor of the year 2009 (JOG England). Was hoping to launch a Schickler Tagliapietra prototype this year but due to lack of funding to finish it that was not to be.

Web: http://dominiklenk.com

 

[jack_sparrow]

Name: Luke Berry

Country: Great Britain

Boat: Bertrand 2009 Prototype

Intro: His boat is a proven performer, previously used by German skipper Jörg Riechers to secure second in 2010 Les Sables and 5th in 2011 Transat. His first Transat but Luke has very rarely been off the Mini podium in the last year. This 29 year old Brit lives in La Rochelle, is one of the favoured non-French competitors and a Sam Davies fan.

Web: http://lukeberry-sailing.com/

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/LukeBerryMiniTransat2015.

Utube:

 

[beezer]

Cool

 

[huey 2]

Thanks for the Mini expose and links Jack, to hear that Katerina Ham is persevering on... Great Stuff

 

[jack_sparrow]

Name: Simon Koster

Country: Switzerland

Boat: Olivier Mousselon 2015 Prototype

Intro: This is his second Mini Transat finishing 3rd in 2013. Started dingy sailing, graduating to offshore sailing and in 2012, a Tour de France Sailing Award (UK) winner and regular podium finisher in Mini's over last two seasons. He will stand out in this race if only for the scow bowed "love it or leave it" pregnant looking prototype that many have knicknamed Kermit because of its shape and colour. His team includes Julien Marcelet, one of his adversaries from the 2013 Mini. Only two Non-Frenchman have won this race before, Simon has what it takes to make it three.

Web: http://simonkoster.com

 

[jack_sparrow]

Name: Andrea Pendibene

Country: Italy

Boat; Pogo 3 Production

Intro: A Mini veteran, this is the third Mini Transat for the Naval Architect who works for the Italian Navy. Competing in the Production class with the modern Verdier designed Pogo 3 built early this year, Andrea has a high solo ranking and has done well with co-skipper Giovanna Valsecchi in double handed Mini Events over the last season. Since 2011 he has been part of the a dedicated, competitive sailing center created by the Navy and based in Naples. In 2007 he was the youngest Italian ever to finish the Mini Transat and in the same year won the Italian Mini title. Sponsored by energy company Tregoo, the boat has over 500w of solar panels. Website: http://www.andreapendibene.it

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlEl51IddIk

 

[jack_sparrow]

Name: Radek Kowalczyk

Country: Poland

Boat: Bertrand Prototype

Intro: This 40 year old Polish sailor only started sailing in his early twenties and already has one Mini Transat under his belt. A key organiser of shorthanded regattas in the Baltic he is the third Pole to take on a Mini Transat and the first to come back for another go. You get the impression Radek is one that that does not give up easily in the face of adversity.

Website: http://radek-kowalczyk.com

Calbud Team Website: http://calbudTEAM.pl

 

[jonas a]

So is the boat of Simon Koster the most extreme scow bow design? other interesting designs?

 

[jack_sparrow]

So is the boat of Simon Koster the most extreme scow bow design? other interesting designs?

Davy Beaudart (FR) has the only another extreme prototype and also a scow but designed by David Raison. Davy's boat is a sister ship to Magnum, which won the Mini Transat 2011 with Raison on board and where he beat the 2nd placed prototype to the finish by a whopping 130 miles. Magnum then came second in 2013 with Giancarlo Pedote driving it. That is a pretty good design pedigree.

Furthermore Davy Beaudart has won his last 3 races in this new boat including this years Mini Fastnet (with David Raison). Certainly a prototype favourite and a lot of people will be watching the French v Swiss battle of the scows between he and Simon Koster.

The other competitors will interestingly be praying for some fresh uphill conditions at some stage which is obviously the scows achiles heel, and where they will be hoping Davy and Simon both slam to a standstill.