Mini-Transat 2021: Three days until the race: Outlook for the start of the Mini-Transat
Kristina Müller
· 23.09.2021
The first leg of the Mini-Transat 2021 is due to start in three days' time, and even before the start it is clear that it will undoubtedly be an exciting race for the 90 sailors.
Five of them come from Germany and Austria, and it will be a dream come true for almost all of them if they are there when the race kicks off. This is currently scheduled for Sunday 26 September at 2 pm.
Update from Friday, 24 September: Due to a passing front in the Bay of Biscay, the start has been postponed by 24 hours. New start: Monday, 27 September at 2 pm.
Update from Monday, 27 September: Start at 3 pm
Who sails with you? The skippers from Germany and Austria
Much is expectedLennart Burke. The 22-year-old, who is celebrating his 23rd birthday the day before the start, bought the boat of the winner of the series boat classification of the last Mini-Transat for the Transat and has prepared extensively for the race over the past two years. With his bright red "Vorpommern", a Pogo 3 (no. 943), he has taken part in intensive training sessions for the mini scene in Lorient, among other things.
LikewiseMelwin Fink. The 19-year-old law student could become the youngest German finisher of a Mini-Tansat to date and, like Lennart Burke, has his sights set on a career in professional sailing. Fink will start on the Pogo 3 "Sign for Com" (No. 920). The up-and-coming sailor was able to attract more sponsors for his campaign than initially hoped and is starting in a competitive boat. The sponsors include Trans-Ocean e.V., under whose banner Rixgens and Burke will also be competing.
Like Fink and Burke, theChristian Kargl in the series boat classification. The 44-year-old Austrian is taking part in the Atlantic regatta for the second time after a 16-year break - and is taking a relaxed approach to the race. He is sailing the Maxi 650 "All Hands on Deck" (No. 980).
Two Germans are ranked among the 25 prototypes: Lina Rixgens and Marc Eric Siewert.
Lina Rixgenswho wants to sail her second Transat after 2017, had hoped to be classified with the series boats after all and had apparently also received the organiser's approval. But the 26-year-old was disappointed: according to the latest information, she will now be classified with the Protos after all. The problem: Rixgens' Wevo 6.5 (no. 982) is actually designed as a series boat, but contrary to expectations, not ten boats of a boat type were built before the start of the race in order for it to receive series boat status. Rixgens herself nevertheless compares her performance in the field with the other series boats such as Pogo 3 or Maxi.
The team deliberately opted for a race in the field of proto-minis built according to freer rules.Marc Eric Siewertdecided. The 24-year-old student sails a 2006 Berret-Racoupeau-Mini, which already has the Atlantic in its wake. Like Rixgens, Siewert looks back on a preparation period with setbacks, but is happy to have achieved the big goal of making it through the qualification and to the start at all.
Which way to go? The route
The first 1350 nautical miles lead fromLes Sables d'Olonne across the Bay of Biscay and to the Canary IslandsLa Palmawhere the first boats are expected from 3 October in the port of Santa Cruz. Still at the briefing on Thursday afternoon for the sailors was confirmed, that La Palma despite the volcanic eruption for the time beingStopover for the sailors. However, Lina Rixgens reported from Les Sables d'Olonne on Thursday afternoon that it could happen that they receive a message en route that another island is to be approached after all. Whether the start will actually take place on Sunday or whether it will be postponed due to a low-pressure system moving towards the Bay of Biscay will only be decided at tomorrow's briefing on Friday, according to Rixgens.
The second leg of the actual Atlantic crossing is scheduled to start from the Canary Islands on 29 October. The participants will then have to cover 2700 nautical miles on their own and without contact with the outside world. This time, the finish line will be off Saint-François on the Caribbean island ofGuadeloupe lie. The fastest sailors are expected to arrive there from 9 November.
You can also read the background to the preparation of the four Germans and the Austrian skipper in YACHT 19-2021, which can be ordered here.
Impressions from the Race Village in Les Sables d'Olonne
