After the Ocean Fifty and Figaro Beneteau classes, Tip & Shaft looks this week at the Mini 6.50 season. While there are no major changes in this year’s Mini Transat, the class continues to reflect on its future, environmental impact and accessibility, and continues to attract new entrants… as well as former transatlantic winners.
The 2025 Mini 6.50 season officially kicked off last week in Spain, with the Mini Petrolera, followed on Thursday, still in the Mediterranean, by the start of the Arcipelago 650, which brings together just under twenty competitors. But it’s in April that things get serious for the bulk of the fleet, with the start of the Plastimo Lorient Mini 6.50 on April 10. “We’ve already had 85 entries, and this mixed doubles format is a real success,” enthuses race director Yves Le Blevec. Very attached to the class, the man who has already raced the Mini Transat three times in proto (5th in 2001, withdrawal following dismasting in 2005 and winner in 2007) is making his return to the circuit this year as skipper.
“It all started with a discussion, during the class’s 30th anniversary last year, with a Mini sailor (Amaury Guérin) who challenged me to come back and sail,” explains the Team Actual director. Given the level in the class today, I first thought that my ego wouldn’t recover if I returned to the circuit. The idea finally took hold and I’ll be racing the Pornichet Select on a production TM650. I’m taking part in all the training sessions at the Orlabay center in La Trinité-sur-Mer, which each time means two-three days of sailing and five of aches and pains!”
Benoît Marie, an other former Mini Transat proto winner (in 2013), returns to the circuit as skipper of Nicomatic-Petit Bateau, a proto he designed with Sam Manuard and driven until now by his partner Caroline Boule, making no secret of his ambition to be the first skipper to win it with a foiler. “We have now reached maturity in terms of structure and systems. We know when to slow down and which settings are fast and stable,” he explains. And if this foiler, which broke the 24-hour distance record (322.70 miles) during the SAS 2024 “had until now a small performance hole in light winds, we’re going to make progress thanks to our new set of sails, even if we know that the level is high!”
Protos in force
Of the 265 members of the class in 2025 (compared with 300 last year), there are more prototypes this year. “We have 36% of them, compared with 26% in 2024,” points out Annabelle Moreau, class secretary. And even though membership is down slightly, the races continue to sell out. “Whether for the Puru Transgascogne or La Boulangère Mini Transat, we’ve sold out straight away,“ confirms Emmanuel Versace, organizer of both events. It’s been a nice surprise, because at the end of the last edition of the Mini Transat, boat sales were a little slack, so we had some doubts about the craze to come.”
No major changes to the class calendar, apart from the stop of the Mini Transmanche, a race dedicated to production boats built before 2012 and protos measured before December 31, 2009, which was held for the first time last year. In view of the low turnout – 11 entries out of 65 eligible boats – the Société des Régates de Caen-Ouistreham (SRCO) decided not to run it again. “We remain convinced, however, that this project is a good idea, and are currently working on a new format which will take place at the end of August/beginning of September in another harbor”, explains Romain Bigot, president of the class.
He continues: “The Board’s job this year will be to digest the results of the ten workshops Classe Mini de demain“, organized last year with the aim of proposing changes to race formats and measurement regulations, to make the class more accessible and sustainable. “Today, our aim is to define slightly more precise areas of work,” he explains. One of the main issues identified is the environmental impact of the class, and of the Mini Transat in particular. In fact, a working group has been set up to find solutions for cargo ships that emit less CO2.” While some have raised the idea of a circular race, Emmanuel Versace doesn’t believes in it, before explaining: “I’ve done a lot of work on the subject, and the project is complicated. If we really want to reduce the impact of the Mini Transat, one solution might be to organize it every three or four years, and why not halve the number of racers.”
A new series rule under study
However, a new measure concerning qualification criteria for the Mini Transat was voted in last year and will be applied for the 2027 edition. “It will enable skippers to earn miles not just on their own boat, but on any Mini,” explains Romain Bigot. This will facilitate access for new entrants to the class, boost the charter market, but also limit boat movements between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.”
Another major project the class is working on is the development of a new series rule for 2027. “The aim is build stronger, more durable and simpler boats,” explains Romain Bigot. Faced with a construction peak between 2021 and 2023 – 98 new Minis! -the class had already taken a strong step last year by imposing a limit on the number of new production boats to 25 by 2024, and a gradual decrease of 20% each year. But the craze has died down somewhat, as the quotas were not reached in the end. “We only allocated 13 new numbers last year,” notes Annabelle Moreau
While this quota of new boats has had no impact on the Technologie Marine shipyard, a newcomer to the circuit who delivered four TM650s in 2024 (this boat was homologated in series last year), Tanguy Aulanier, in charge of the project, fears more for the long term. “It’s going to be more complicated in two or three years’ time, when there will be fewer than ten boats in total to divide between the yards. That’s why we need to continue working with the class and keep the link between the shipyards to build the future together.” All of which will provide plenty of food for thought at upcoming Board meetings.
Photo : Vincent Olivaud
