Transat 650 or Mini Transat is one of the most difficoult and most extreme sailing races in the world. Every two years solo sailors race in 6.5 m long sailboats for more than 4.200 nm across the Atlantic without any outside assistance.  The route is divided in two parts, first from La Rochelle in France to Canary Islands and the second one from Canary Island to Salvadore de Bahia in Brazil.

The idea of a race in which the competitor must sail across the Atlantic ocean singlehanded, on a sailboat not longer than 6,5 meter and without receiving external assistance dates back to 1977. The response of the public before the start of first Mini Transat was as expected: enthusiasm, amazement and plenty of sceptisism. 25 sailors gathered  at the start of the first race, 20 of the actually finished  and  the Mini Transat was  born.

Nowadays, Mini Transat is top level sporting event.The fleet is limited to 70 sailors among which are Olympic sailors, round-the-world sailors and record breakers but also simple people wanting new adventure. The Mini Transat is for most of them the completely new experience.

During the race sailors don’t sleep a lot, eat dehydrated food and powerbars and live in 3 cubic meters of living space that they have to share with 200 kg of equipment: water, food, spare parts. Four weeks at sea with 100 l of water and 35 kg of food. Besides sailing abilities and seamanship, sailor needs to have good navigation and meteorological skills.

MINI TRANSAT 2005 in numbers: