Preparing for Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50

Created in 1977 by Bob Salmon, the 18th edition of The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 leaves on Sunday the 25th of September 2011 at 05:17 am off the coasts of Charente-Maritime to head to Salvador de Bahia (Brazil) via Funchal (Madeira / Portugal). This transatlantic (former Mini Transat) is single-handed, without routing or contact with the earth and without assistance. 80 sailors from 16 countries will leave for a 4200 nautical miles voyage (7800 km) on 21-foot sailboats. The starter for all the best sailors: Michel Desjoyeaux, Ellen MacArthur, Loïck and Bruno Peyron, Laurent Yvan Bourgnon, Bernard Stamm, Lionel Lemonchois, Thomas Coville, Isabelle Autissier, Catherine Chabaud, Samantha Davies...

80 contestants and 6 women. There will be six women to set sails for the 18th Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50. Six women out of 80 sailors! Thus, it shows a reality… The very small representativeness of women in offshore sailing race’s World. Yet, the most famous women have participated to The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50. Two French, one American, one Italian, one British and one Dutch.

45 French and 35 foreigners, representing 16 countries at the start! Victim of its success, the Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 will gathers skippers from all over the World. Also, 35 foreigners from 16 countries will be at the start: Germany, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Spain, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States. The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50 is the most international single-handed transatlantic and it is a fabulous gateway to the world of racing, regardless your origins. Note that the Spanish, Italian, English, Dutch and Swiss are among the most represented and that for the first time a Chinese competitor will participate.

33 prototypes and 47 series. Since 1977, the prototypes have become real racing over-sailed machines able to head precisely on the wind and feel downwind like overpowering sledges. With almost 50m² upwind and 100m² downwind, prototypes want to gain weight and to concentrate the maximum ballast in the floor and the bulge. To centre weight and to low it, increases the sails surface, reduces the wet surface and keeps an efficient anti-drift plan. The Mini is a great playground for architects and sailors who manufacture their own toys. As for innovations, still remember that Minis have contributed to the adoption of canting keels, ballast (water being counter-balanced to one side or the other of the boat), the lateral drift (to optimise the anti-drift plan), double rudders, the bowsprit for genakers and asymmetric spinnakers use, the big roaches mainsail... The small monohulls are laboratories of which the Classe Open 60 now adopts each innovation. The 2011 edition will welcome the last Bertrand designs and many Lombart, Finot Conq, Manuard designs “customised” by the sailors. Also keep an eye on the Cossuti, Twister and Fermin new models. A wonderful duel at sea for these super motivated sailors!

Some fascinating chases to come for the series boats. The Chantier Structure will be widely represented with 24 Pogo (1 and 2), as well as the Marée Haute’s Dingo 2 (D2), Chantier PIxis’s Nacira 6.50 designed in collaboration with Corentin Douguet (2005 edition winner), Sam Manuard’s Tip Top, Sébastien Magnen’s Ginto and Chantier Nivelt’s Mistral... That is a huge and unique Minis 6,50 meeting that give both sailors and boats the opportunity to excel in a magical and atypical race.

Do we need to introduce Bernard Stamm? Two times winner of the round the globe race, Imoca and Fico World champion, Trophée Jules Verne co-holder… Bernard has, in addition to his CV, a very atypical and sympathetic profile. Born in Switzerland, he was the family’s enfant terrible; Bernard firstly was in search of solitude and chose to be lumberjack. After six years of hard work, he started travelling, and he crossed and crossed again the Atlantic on merchant marine boats. The sea got him and won’t let him go anymore!

His first personal project starts in 1994, when he decides to build his own Rolland design boat with his friend Frédéric Boursier. The aim is to take part to the Mini Transat 1995 (Brest – Funchal – Fort-de-France). Both of them build their boat in Lesconil’s premises (Finisterre). The Rolland design has the number 138 and one hotel from Zematt in Switzerland gives her his name… Bernard crossed the Atlantic on Hotel Albana, on a cream coloured boat… And what a race! He ends 5th on the first leg and 4th on the second leg. He finally ends 3rd after

Thierry Fagnent 2nd and Yvan Bourgnon (prototypes category). Partick Leroux – Libération newspaper journalist – quotes on the 31st of October 1995: “My life is a succession of challenges. I was a lumberjack then I worked in the merchant marine, I've been boats conveyor and now I am racing. These are just steps towards an absolute that I cannot control.” His following records do not contradict this success. Bernard continues the season 1996 on the 138 prior to the building of the famous and popular, 60-foot Superbigou in 1997 followed by Armor Lux, Bobst Group and Cheminées Poujoulat.

Scott Cavanough 797 (Australia) will sail while giving his name to an Australian charity for children with brain tumors. Its goal is to get 10,000 Australian $ donation for children. Louis Mauffret also run for Amnesty International with his boat "Solidaires", the sail will be painted by the artist Paul Bloas who has carte blanche to illustrate the theme of human rights...

Find all the information on www.charentemaritime-bahia.transat650.net

What you should remember the Charente-Maritime / Bahia Transat 6.50:

• Start Date: Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 17:17 (French Time)
• Route: Departure from Fort Boyard (Charente-Maritime/France) / Funchal (Madeira / Portugal) / Salvador de Bahia (Bahia / Brazil)
• Number of Miles to go: 4 200 or 7 800 km
• Number of Boats: 84
• Organization: Grand Pavois Organisation
• Presence of boats: from Thursday, September 15
• Race village: from 21 to 25 September from 11:00 to 19:00 at the Bassin des Chalutiers of La Rochelle