Mini-Transat 2023: Melwin Fink's race against time is on: Mini-Transat campaign "reloaded": Melwin Fink is not giving up

If all goes well, Melwin Fink's second new build will be ready to go in around ten days. This time, the latest Vector Mini from Yachtservice Stettin was completed in just three weeks. The experience gained from fitting out the first new build at the beginning of the year and the equipment that was still available contributed to the record time. At the beginning of April, the accident involving Fink's number one new build in the Mediterranean, the helicopter rescue of the young skipper and his co-sailor Marc Menzebach and the subsequent stranding of the severely damaged mini brought Fink's project to a dramatic temporary end. Now things are starting all over again, even if the chances of Melwin Fink's 2023 Mini Transat participation, which is still in his sights, have diminished. The indestructible man has by no means given up on his dream of a second Mini-Transat start.

"You wouldn't wish on anyone what we experienced"

The fact that the construction of Fink's latest Mini, named "Karin Monika" again after the grandmothers, progressed so quickly this time that the underwater hull can already be sprayed on Monday (25 July) helps Fink in his race to catch up in the battle for a starting place in the Mini-Transat 2023. "The new build actually arrived in Bad Salzuflen even less prepared than the first one. Not a single hole had been drilled," he explains. But the fortunate thing about the accident and its consequences is: "We were able to take back some of the parts that we had specially milled at the beginning of the year. For example, the completely modified and more stable bow fitting. Or the slightly modified rudder system." The "reloaded" expansion progressed quickly. "All of the fittings are already in place and the mast has already been erected. It also helps that you already know exactly what needs to go where. We even joked, not entirely without sarcasm, that the first one was a test boat and that we could now optimise it, for example by moving a clamp another five centimetres or leaving it out completely. Of course there were positive effects. But seriously, you wouldn't wish what we experienced on anyone. And you never want to experience it again."

As with the previous new build, Fink will once again head straight to Barcelona with his current Mini. The trip is planned for the first week of August, provided the electronics from France arrive on time. Fink will then have two weeks in Barcelona for testing, optimisation and training before the starting gun is fired for the first two-handed race, in which he can and wants to take part with sailing friend Hendrik Lenz from Bremen. The start and finish harbour of the 500 nautical mile Mare Nostrum race is Garraf near Barcelona. The starting signal for the challenging Balearic course, which is often stormy at this time of year, will be given at 2.30 pm on 26 August. If Fink's ambitious plan goes according to plan, he will contest two more races by autumn and thus reach the 1,000 required qualifying miles for the mini-transat. "That would make three races in the Mediterranean, although the last one in Italy currently only has three entries and it's not clear whether it will materialise," says the 20-year-old law student, explaining one of the many problems in his race to catch up, in which he is also reliant on external factors working.

Fink's race against time and the tough mini-regulations: the decision will be made at the beginning of 2023

Because starting places secured in time for the qualifying classics in the Mini class are always linked to the registered boat and not to the skipper, Fink has lost all his starting places with the total loss of the first new build. He now has to take countermeasures with the second new build and creative alternatives. It is painful that Fink is unable to take part in the current "Les Sables-Azores-Les Sables" race, for example, which comprises two stages of around 1,300 nautical miles. "70 people are currently earning their Transat starting licence, if they want to," explains Fink. Another condition for the mini-Transat start is participation in at least one solo race in the year of the race itself, i.e. 2023. "There's one early in the year that starts in Garraf again and goes around an oil platform off Mallorca. That would work. If I fulfil this condition even before the others, then I might have another chance at the mini-transat. Then I could move from the waiting list to the main start list. It will be a tight race overall and everything has to work out, but then it could work out," says Fink, explaining his complex challenge. Early qualification at the start of 2023 is important to him: "I want to know at the start of the year whether I'm qualified or not. Otherwise you can't sell it to anyone and you can't plan properly. Otherwise you have to leave it alone." How does he rate his own chances? As a fighter, Fink remains optimistic: "It will be difficult, but with my luck I might make it. I'll know more by the end of the year. I'm really keen, especially now that I've got my boat back. My fingers are really itching. We've put so many ideas and money into it. You want to see how it performs. And I also need to finally get out of the workshop again."

But what happens if the dream falls through? If part of the demanding and required Blitz Puzzle programme doesn't work out and the participation requirements for the mini-transat cannot be met in the time remaining? "Then I sail the boat until I have a new plan. I find the new Class 30, which now has a new name in Carboman, very interesting. I also used to find the Figaros exciting, but they are no longer so hyped. And the Class 40 is still too blatant for me as the next step. I don't feel ready for it yet. People are already talking about budgets of two million euros or more. I can't imagine that yet, I'd rather take it step by step."