Joshua Schopfer to compete in the Mini Transat 2025

Joshua Schopfer today announces the official launch of his campaign for the Mini Transat 2025 © Mark Henley

The Geneva-based sailor has announced the official launch of his campaign for the Mini Transat 2025, which he will be competing in aboard a Maxi 6.50 series boat.

After six months of intense preparations, the 24 year-old sailor Joshua Schopfer has announced the official launch of his campaign for the Mini Transat 2025.

"It's a project I've been dreaming about for years," he confesses. "Today, I can formally announce the launch of this project, which already has a solid foundation."

From this winter, the Geneva-born, Swiss and British skipper will be based in Lorient. In January, he will take delivery of his future boat, the Maxi 1028, which is currently competing in the 2023 edition of the Mini Transat. "It is difficult to buy a competitive Mini, because there's more demand than supply," says Joshua. "I'm lucky enough to be the future owner of Felix Oberle's boat, which is one of the leading boats in the current Mini Transat. It's a perfectly tuned boat, which has been superbly maintained by its owner."

Trained at the Société Nautique de Genève Sailing Team in the Optimist and then Laser (ILCA) classes, Joshua Schopfer has also been racing on keelboats since he was a child. Winner of the Syz Translémanique singlehanded race (2020), he has competed in the 5 Jours du Léman on four occasions and has already accumulated numerous Bol d'Or Mirabaud. This summer, he took part in the Tour de France à la Voile on board a Figaro Bénéteau, sailed the tough Rolex Fastnet Race and competed across the Mediterranean as part of the Palermo - Monte-Carlo; three regattas that provided excellent training for ocean racing before he finds himself alone on his Mini.

From next spring, Joshua will be joining the Lorient Grand Large training centre, a high-level training structure designed to train future participants in the Mini Transat. "For the next two years, I am going to be devoting all my energy to this project," he explains. "I have good foundations as a racer, but I still have a lot to learn about sailing at sea, meteorology and all the technical aspects of ocean racing."

The first partners have joined Joshua Schopfer's campaign for the Mini Transat 2025, including Fonds du Sport, Commune d'Anières, Ecole Moser, FidPartners, Imprimerie Moléson and Bucher + Walt. But there's still a long way to go to raise the necessary budget, and Joshua will be devoting a large part of his time to finding financial partners. A crowdfunding campaign is also under way on his website.

For more information visit Joshua Schopfer's website.