Mini-Transat: "Geomag" becomes "Vorpommern": Lennart Burke christens new Mini

Lennart Burke still spends more time on the road than on the water. But that is about to change. The 21-year-old from Stralsund, who recently brought the boat with which he wants to sail the Mini-Transat 2021 in just under two years from the French Atlantic coast to the Baltic Sea in Stralsund, has over 1600 kilometres behind him.

Name with roots

This is where Burke's younger sister christened the 6.50 metre short, now bright red ocean racer with its new name today, Monday: "Vorpommern". Lennart Burke says the choice of name is a thank you to his homeland.

"Even though I'm drawn out into the world, I'm a true West Pomeranian. I identify very strongly with my homeland, with my roots. The area here has shaped me. And of course the name should bring me luck."

Across the Atlantic in 13 days

The boat itself was previously known as "Geomag" with the number 943. It was the winning boat in the 2019 Mini-Transat series boat competition and Burke bought it from the previous owner Ambrogio Beccaria at the end of 2019 with the help of his new main sponsor.

The Italian completed the second leg of the Mini-Transat in November 2019 in just 13 days and just under two hours, having meticulously prepared himself and the boat, a Pogo 3 from 2018, beforehand.

For Lennart Burke, the new ship and the christening are a milestone in his preparations for the single-handed transatlantic regatta in autumn 2021. Originally, the Stralsund native with regatta and ocean experience wanted to start with the Vector 6.50 "Mex" from the ocean sailing club Trans Ocean. However, the organisation had overstretched itself with the project and had to stop funding it.

Düsseldorf boat as the next destination

For Lennart Burke, things continue straight after the christening. Before the first training sessions begin in Lorient in February, he wants to present the boat to the public: at boot Düsseldorf in Hall 15, which begins on Saturday.