In January, the Verein zur Förderung des Hochseesegelns Trans Ocean (TO) announced that it would be supporting the campaign of a young German sailor for the 2021 Mini-Transat and financing the boat. Young sailors were invited to apply - according to the association, 15 applications were received by the application deadline on 30 June 2018.
The TO jury, consisting of board member Egon Lutomsky and regatta sailors such as Mini-Transat participants Andreas Deubel and Wolfgang Quix, has now agreed on five candidates for the final selection. Among them is 24-year-old Lina Rixgens from Cologne, who was the first German woman to successfully compete in the Mini 6.50 single-handed race across the Atlantic at the last Mini-Transat in autumn 2017.
Although Rixgens initially wanted to finish her studies in Belgium after the intensive time in the Mini, she has already announced that she will pursue further projects in ocean sailing. It is therefore not surprising to see her name on the list of applicants for the TO project - especially as she and Andreas Deubel had already received financial support from the TO in 2017.
"I would love to sail the Mini-Transat 2021. Being able to use the experience from 2016/17 and build on what I've learnt so far on a new series mini would be great!" says Rixgens. "The TO campaign is a really good opportunity. If it doesn't work out, I'll still try to find the necessary sponsorship money. But getting the boat and having the support behind me would of course be a huge help."
Although a mini-campaign is seen as an introduction to offshore sailing and is less costly than other offshore regatta projects, the financing and search for sponsors is a hurdle, especially for the younger participants, which has to be overcome in addition to the necessary qualifying miles.
Trans Ocean wants to cover the costs for a new series mini and for the preparation exclusively through sponsorship. However, it is still early days, reports TO Chairman Martin Birkhoff. Once the selection of candidates has been finalised, they want to focus intensively on financing.
The TO will announce who will be taking part in 2021 and the qualifying regattas under the TO banner on
29 September on the occasion of the association's 50th anniversary celebrations. Until then, the candidates will undergo a kind of sailing "assessment centre", according to Birkhoff.
