Mini Transat- Inspired Boats the Mini Transat Race Has Been at the Cutting Edge of Boat Design Since Its Inception in 1977
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Boats Afep Marine Evolution The Rêvolution 22. Designed by David Raison, these aluminium-hulled and scow-bowed cruisers look like nothing else afloat. Internal volume – thanks to ‘that’ bow – is astonishing in both the 22 and the 29 Mini Transat- inspired boats The Mini Transat race has been at the cutting edge of boat design since its inception in 1977. Peter K Poland discusses the influence the event’s ‘flying machines’ have exerted on ocean racers and modern production yachts alike very two years, maritime equivalent of ‘those And fly these machines do. In Transatlantic Race), invented many sailors magnificent men (and women) the 2015 Mini Transat, Julien Pulvé by former Cockleshell Hero (mostly young) set and their flying machines’. Over managed a day’s run of 278.7NM Blondie Hasler and first won by Sir sail from the French the years, many of these intrepid at an average speed of 11.6 knots Francis Chichester, and the first coast in high- Mini Transat sailors have gone on in his Ofcet 6.50 production non-stop solo Round the World performance 6.50m to become international sailing (Series) class yacht, while overall race – the Sunday Times Golden yachtsE to race single-handed to superstars, while the unfettered winner of the Proto Class Ian Globe, won by Robin Knox- the Canaries and then on across development of their ‘flying Lipinski covered 3,285 miles at an Johnson – the Mini Transatlantic the Atlantic. Some people reckon machines’ has exerted a major average of 9.25 knots. Out of the race was also dreamt up by a Brit. they are loonies. Others – myself and ongoing influence on 2015 entry of 72 boats (26 Proto We have always had an aptitude included – believe they are the modern production yachts and 46 Series), only two needed for inventing things, be they the and ocean racers of all sizes. external assistance due to computer, the jet engine, the damage. All the others made port internet or single-handed yacht ABOUT THE AUTHOR under their own steam, proving races: we just don’t seem to be that these Mini Transat 6.50s have so adept at cashing in on them. Peter K Poland crossed the Atlantic in a 7.6m come a long way since the hairy (25ft) Wind Elf in 1968 and later spent 30 early days when some sailors lost Early entrants years as co-owner of Hunter Boats. He is their boats and others their lives. Bob Salmon invented the Mini now a freelance journalist. Like the original OSTAR Transat in 1977, aiming to bring (Observer Single-Handed trans-ocean solo sailing back 22 Practical Boat Owner 598 April 2016 • www.pbo.co.uk Mini Transat-inspired boats prototypes from crossing the heavy-duty rudder were the main Channel. So they had to sneak changes. John gave a lucid across unobserved. description of what it was like to Amongst the inaugural 1977 undertake a Mini Transat in those Mini Transat fleet were many early days, writing: ‘In the week slightly modified production boats before the start, the other boats that still give good service today. begin to arrive. With only three An early Finot-designed Rêve de main rules (the boats must Mer took third, a Dufour-designed be 6.5m maximum length, be Sylphe did well and the Harlé- self-righting and carry no more designed hard-chine plywood than six sails) there is a great ‘boîte’ better known as the diversity of designs, from Norton Muscadet enhanced its name Smith’s American Express to with five finishers, two of which Margaret Hicks’ Hurley 22 were in the top 10. Anonymous Bay, with the E-Boat The second Mini Transat in 1979 coming halfway along the scale saw the first prototype yacht built in terms of speed and weight. Peter K Poland Peter A typical production Mini 650 interior… plenty of space, but not a lot specifically for the race: and it ‘It is obvious that I am not going of creature comforts. The lighter they are, the faster they go! wasn’t French! American Norton to win the race. Just one look at Smith commissioned American the assembled machinery makes Express as a downwind flyer with that absolutely clear, but to do well The Muscadet, a successful broad beam, special running sails amongst the production boats competitor in many early Mini Transat 650 races and twin water ballast tanks, and would be an achievement. We across the Atlantic duly showed the French the way manage to pass scrutineering OK, home. More interesting was the which is more than can be said for new Gros Plant design developed some of the others. Smiling Tree by Philipe Harlé, based on his is well prepared. There are one or mighty Muscadet. Still with a two boats here that I wouldn’t take hard chine plywood hull, the for a trip on the River Thames. It is Gros Plant boasted many new difficult enough being only 6.5m features including a considerably long and having 4,000 miles of wider stern. Jean-Luc Van Den ocean in front of you: but to build Heede piloted one to second and rig your chosen steed like an overall and designer Harlé took Osprey dinghy, as some of these the helm of another, coming guys have, is asking a bit too fourth. This race also saw much of lady luck. You have to Bénéteau enter the fray with a try to stack the cards in your couple of modified First 22s. favour, even if you don’t know Further down the fleet, the Brit how they will be dealt.’ John Tomlinson put up a fine He describes events shortly after performance in a modified Julian the start, saying; ‘Enda O’Coineen Everitt-designed E-Boat, Smiling is just behind me in the Limbo 6.6 Tree. A slightly shortened stem, Kilcullen 2. The next day, in light Peter K Poland Peter extra laminate, beefed-up rig and winds, I cross tacks with Bob within the budget of ‘ordinary’ sailors. Ignoring detractors and prophets of doom, he completed the inaugural race from the Penzance Sailing Club to Antigua in an Anderson 22. Having suffered rudder failure just outside English Harbour, drifted onto a reef, been towed clear and then sculled by Salmon across the line, Anderson Affair was the first British entry home. Predictably, a large French contingent took part. Since Eric Tabarly had become a national hero after winning the second OSTAR in 1964, his countrymen took to long-distance solo sailing with a vengeance. It was no surprise, therefore, that the first Mini Transat was won by a Frenchman – Daniel Gilard in a Serpentaire class cruiser. Ironically, the major problem for many of the French competitors was just getting to Penzance to Peter K Poland Peter start the race, because the Affaires Maritimes forbade Jeanneau’s Sun 2000, and some smaller Firsts, show a Mni Transat influence with their upright stems and sleek lines ➜ Practical Boat Owner 598 April 2016 • www.pbo.co.uk 23 Boats Salmon’s Anderson Adventurer, but he is not on deck so he does not see me. It is a good job someone is awake around here. ‘Middle of the night, October 6. The wind is up to full gale plus a bit, from the south. I have three reefs in the main and no jib on at all. Heading west at about four knots on the log, the noise down below is ear-splitting, with the flat-bottomed bow slamming into every breaking wave. I cannot sleep or cook any food. I am living on GORP (good old raisins and peanuts). It is very uncomfortable.’ Later, he writes: ‘A horrible black morning… squally, wet and windy. Coco class Mini Transat yachts before the start of the Vannes-Azores-Vannes race in the 1990s Then a real gale, then flat calm again. Very frustrating, and not had followed his dreams and – much progress. Changing against all the odds – established rig continuously all day. Up an event that had become a spinnaker. Only for a few hours, success. But now he felt it was though. Drop the kite, sheets in time to hand over the reins, and again. So it goes on, day after journalist Jean-Luc Garnier day. Feeling a need now for set about convincing the fellow human beings.’ establishment that the event Then, approaching Tenerife: was well founded. He obtained ‘I have to scull the last two miles the support of the town of Brest, in the dark. Elapsed time is 16 and the Mini Transat rules became days, 12 hours, 42 minutes. Too tighter – including ‘unsinkability’ long, really: however, only 12 and specifying compulsory safety boats are in before me so I am equipment. Yves Parlier won not the slowest. American Express overall, becoming the first sailor arrived first, nearly four days to use a carbon mast: an ago, followed by a bunch of innovation that soon became Peter K Poland Peter the French boys.’ commonplace on leading race The Yaka 650, an example of a neat twin-keel French cruiser From Tenerife to Antigua, John boats around the world. developed from a Mini Transat 6.50 racer took 25 days. He writes: ‘I am just The 1987 event saw another a few short steps from my first breakthrough. Coming second GRP or wood (no carbon) Adventure Planters Punch. A lot of the other overall and first production boat, construction, fixed keels, less and intensity boats are in and the welcome is the new Harlé-designed Coco draught and shorter rigs etc.