Class Mini 650

The rules 

Mini 650 is a simple box rule class. Boat lenght is limited to 6.5 m  overall, the boat beam is 3 m maximum, and deck has to be 0.75 m above the waterline. Draft has a 2 m limit, and 14 m is maximum distance from the top of the mast till the bottom of the keel.

Class rules are also concerning boat stability and safety. The maximum heeling angle of the empty boat with all dynamic ballast (swinging keel and water ballast) in one side maximum position is limited to 10 deg. Also the boat heeled for 90 deg with the weight of 45 kg on the top of the highest sail has to be able to return in upright position with all the dynamic ballast in the worst position. Boat has to be unsinkable according to the rules and the list of safety equipment is long and important.    

30 years ago the first winner was wooden Serpentiere. Since that time class Mini was the test ground  for ocean sailing innovations. Water ballasts, swinging keels, carbon construction are were first tested in Mini 650 sailboats.  

Innovations for a moderate building budget results in new designs in hull forms, sail shapes, ergonomics and equipment. Today the ideas from Minis are widely used not only in racing boats but in cruisers too. 

Class Mini characteristics

• Dimensions
  Length: 6.50 m
  Beam: 3.00 m
  14 meters between mast top and keel end
  
  
• Speed
  Maximum speed more than 20 knots and daily log of 250 miles shows the boats capabilities
  
  
• Concurrency
  The distance between the first and the second place at the end of 3200 miles long 2nd leg of the MT 2001 was only 23 minutes.
  
  
• Inovations
  In the last 30 years Miini was the test ground  for ocean sailing innovations

1999 Lucas – Raison design, built in France. Since than, the boat took part in 2 MT campaigns with skipper David Raison and in MT 2001 she finished in 7th place.

The boat is wide and powerfull with high initial stability for good performance in reaching and downwind.

It is the first boat with revolutionary 2d canting keel system. Besides canting, the keel is able to rotate in vertical axis.

In 2002. the boat was brought to Hungary with the help of famous Hungarian  Vendee Globe sailor Fa Nandor. She is owned by Almadi yacht club and Mr. Kristof Nobilis who are one of the most important sponsors of the project .

During the racing seasons 2006 / 07. she will be the official sailing boat of the CroOcean team.

Main characteristics:

Length: 6,50 m

Beam: 3,00 m

Draft: 1,98 m

Mast: 12,00 m

Water balast: 2 x 120 l

Max canting keel angle: +/- 30 deg

Max keel rotation angle: +/- 10 deg