Globe 5.80 Transat: Stage finish achieved in the ocean race in the self-build mini

580 nautical miles in the wake, and that on 5.80 metre short boats! All six solo sailors who are currently sailing across the Atlantic on their Class Globe 5.80 self-builds have reached their interim destination.

Switzerland's Etienne Messikommer was the fastest. Four days and 21 hours after the Launch off the Portuguese coast he arrived at the Marina Rubicon on Lanzarote.

Three days later, on Wednesday, the last boat finally appeared on the horizon. Jim Schofield from Ireland had sailed from Lagos a good 72 hours late. He had only arrived in Lagos with his boat on the trailer on the day of the actual start and still had to rig and prepare the boat. Organiser Don McIntyre, who is taking part himself, also arrived two days late and sailed behind the field.

More adventure than regatta

None of this is a problem in the Transat Mini-Mini organised by Don McIntyre. So far, the race has more the character of a great adventure experiment than a well-organised ocean race. The boats are too new and untested, and some have only just been completed enough to even think about an ocean race.

"For almost everyone, the first leg was more about showing everyone and themselves that their boat can do it," says German-speaking participant Severin Hummer from Switzerland in an interview with YACHT. "But the second leg is supposed to be a real race. The atmosphere is very informal overall, probably because we are only six sailors."

Hummer crossed the finish line in fourth place. However, the first leg should not be included in the overall standings. Not all skippers had managed to sail 500 nautical miles solo and offshore on their boat before the start. The first leg of this race was therefore quickly converted into a qualifying race.

Dolphins and storm

All skippers and boats seem to have survived it well. Although most of them came into strong winds, there were no major breakages. But there were starting difficulties.

"Due to problems with the autopilot and the wind steering system, I had to steer the boat myself for 70 hours in winds of up to 40 knots," says Czech skipper Michal Krysta.

Brit Peter Kenyon has both good and bad things to say about the trip: "It was an eventful first! The best moment was when dolphins woke me from my nap in the cockpit. The worst was when I noticed water in the boat and didn't know where it was coming from."

3000 nautical miles ahead

The skippers now have another week to gather their strength and organise the last things on the boat. It is not yet clear whether everyone will actually tackle the almost 3000 nautical mile journey to Antigua. Nor is it clear how well the boats will perform on a real Atlantic crossing, which can take 30 days with the tiny boat.

But at least one thing is certain: the start was a success. Everyone has achieved their first, self-imposed goal - to start the Transat in a self-built boat.

Information and updates on the race can be found on the Facebook page "Globe 5.80 Transat".

Click here for the tracker (click) and to the Website of the regatta.