Mini-Transat: Six candidates, one dream - the mini-candidate final is underway

On offer is a well-prepared mini-transat campaign with a prepared boat, sponsor, job opportunities and a target year of 2027. Over the past few weeks, ambitious young sailors with an interest in regattas have been invited to apply. The Next Generation Sailing Team received almost 50 applications. After initial screenings and preliminary decisions, six candidates remained, who presented themselves in the final today on 7 November.

The top six in the final

The six applicants still had a few challenges to overcome before one of them would fulfil their dream in the coming days. The day began for all participants with a tour of the Osterrath production hall in Bad Laasphe, Westphalia. The developers and producers of precision stamped and moulded tube products are supporting the Mini-Transat project.

Afterwards, each candidate was asked to attend a familiarisation interview, Melwin Fink and Lennart Burke reported on the final round of the selection process. This was followed by a technical part of the examination programme, which was conducted by Next Generation Boating master boat builder Markus Mehlen together with an Osterrath electrician. The candidates had to solve a splicing task and an electronic problem.

• The Next Generation Sailing team launched the talent search at the beginning of September via YACHT

They are all fighting for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: Lennart Burke, Melwin Fink and their team will support and train the winner on his course for the transatlantic mini-solo. An already equipped Vector 6.5 is available for the project with the new young skipper. According to the team, the winner will have "the opportunity to concentrate fully on preparing for the mini-transat".

Difficult decision for the jury

It will now take a few more days before a decision is made in favour of one of the candidates. The jury will deliberate extensively before casting its vote. The jury members are Next Generation Sailing founders Lennart Burke and Melwin Fink, their experienced master boat builder Markus Mehlen and Jan Osterrath from the host company of the same name. Plus the first German Mini Transat participant Wolfgang Quix, a Trans Ocean veteran.

The five jury members have heard, seen and tested what the candidates can do and what they want. They want to announce their difficult decision as soon as possible. We present the candidates for the final round, which had to do without women due to a lack of qualified applications, in alphabetical order according to the information provided by the Next Generation Sailing team.

These are the candidates

Sebastian Bachl, 24, Inzell, currently working in boatbuilding in Hamburg

Sebastian's motivation to apply for the Mini Transat campaign came from his passion for single-handed offshore sailing. He sees this as the ideal opportunity to expand his skills and promote offshore sailing in Germany.

• About yourself: "I make quick, well-considered decisions based on technical knowledge and experience."
• About his strengths: "Discipline and perseverance keep me focussed under tough conditions, high willingness to learn."
• About his weaknesses: "Sometimes I tend to be a perfectionist and get lost in the details, occasionally impatient."
• Biggest success so far: "Completion of the mechanical engineering degree in just 3 years."

Leander Georges, 19, lives in Hong Kong, currently First Mate at Sail Racing Academy

The Mini Transat campaign offers Leander the unique opportunity to realise his dream of professional offshore sailing. He wants to learn a lot from the Next Generation Boating team and improve his sailing skills. Although he is a team player, the challenge of single-handed sailing appeals to him.

• About himself: "Growing up between Hong Kong and Germany has taught me to organise myself flexibly around the world..."
• About his strengths: "Calm personality. I approach problems calmly and thoughtfully. Not only determination, but also fairness, adaptability, flexibility and curiosity are important to me."
• On his weaknesses: "Outside of the 'cosmos boat', a tendency towards disorganisation. Sometimes forgets self-care and personal contact in the flow."
• Biggest success so far: "Crossing the inner Bay of Biscay and skippering a Beneteau First 40.7 at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez."

Frederick Nabor, 22, mechanical engineering student from Bremen

Ever since Frederick first heard about the Mini-Transat, he knew he had to sail on it. Friends and acquaintances advised him to apply to Next Generation Boating and Osterrath GmbH.

• About himself: "What appeals to me about single-handed sailing is that I have to get the best out of my abilities."
• About his strengths: "I meet challenges with passion and ambition. A keen sense for change, a solution-orientated approach to (technical) problems, self-confidence:"
• On his weaknesses: "I'm still working on my energy management and improving my eating and sleeping routine."
• Bisland's greatest success: "Participation in the Fastnet Race 2023 on our club's youth boat."

Linus Rieger, 22, Canada, shipbuilding student

The Mini Transat campaign by Next Generation Boating and Osterrath GmbH comes at the perfect time for Linus to realise his dream of taking part in an ocean race.

• About himself: "(...) The challenges I had to overcome as team captain (...) were unique and varied."
• On his strengths: "The combination of practical, systematic and scientific learning as well as my tenacity to achieve goals."
• Weaknesses: "Little experience in offshore sailing so far:"
• Biggest success so far: "Team captain of the SuMoth team, which I co-founded last year."

Ole Ulrich, 23, Hamburg, Master's student at the TU Munich

Passionate sailor Ole was looking for new sailing challenges after his first Atlantic crossing. The call for the Mini Transat campaign came at just the right time and he sensed his chance.

• About himself: "My gut feeling told me to try it!"
• On his strengths: "Offshore and regatta experience, I don't get stressed easily, I'm solution-orientated."
• On his weaknesses: "Perseverance, even when a creative break is called for. I express criticism very directly."
• Biggest success to date: "Atlantic crossing from the Caribbean to the Azores."

Tom Wehde, 25, Hamburg, boat builder

After Tom was able to fulfil his dream of crossing the Atlantic at the beginning of this year, he tasted blood and discovered shorthanded sailing for himself after the Baltic 500. This led to the dream of competing in the mini-transat.

• About himself: "I shy away from (almost) nothing."
• On his strengths: "Ten years of experience on big boats, relatively fearless."
• On his weaknesses: "I'm not a man of big words, sometimes a bit hasty."
• Biggest success to date: "Second place in the ORC European Championship 2024 and 2nd place in the RORC Transatlantic Race in Group IRC O."

We will soon be reporting on which of the six candidates will win the race on YACHT online.

A little taste of what mini-transat sailing can be? A look back at Next-Generation Sailing co-founder Melwin Fink's involvement in the 2021 Mini-Transat. Just 19 years old at the time, he became famous with a storm ride: