Quentin Debois has written a new chapter in Belgian sailing history in a Mini 6.50

Quentin Debois becomes the third sailor in the world to cross the North Atlantic © oceansailing.be

Quentin Debois has just written a new chapter in Belgian sailing history. He has just sailed 5,300 km solo across the North Atlantic, from New York to England, on a Mini 6.50.

The skipper has become the third sailor in the world to successfully cross the North Atlantic from west to east on the smallest offshore racing boat. Before him, only David Allamelou (France, 2018) and Jay Thompson (USA, 2023) had achieved this feat. French sailor Olivier Jehl had attempted this crossing in 2016, but his Mini 6.50 sank off the coast of Newfoundland.

During this North Atlantic crossing, Quentin put in an impressive performance: he broke his own speed record and consistently stayed ahead of the predicted route. However, the extremely volatile and challenging weather conditions throughout the entire route prevented him from improving on Jay Thompson's excellent benchmark time (17 days, 9 hours, and 57 minutes). Quentin had to deviate from a direct course toward England due to three areas of light winds and two severe low-pressure systems that blocked his path. The Belgian skipper crossed the finish line Wednesday, September 30 at Lizard Point at 3h11 22 sec UTC, after a crossing of 20 days, 3 hours, 18 minutes, and 40 seconds. Next challenge: competing in the 2028 Vendée Globe.

Quentin Debois reflects on these three weeks of adventure in the North Atlantic:

"I knew this record would be very difficult to break. Jay Thompson had set the bar very high. The North Atlantic is a complex playground, dominated by low-pressure systems and weather conditions that can be harsh. Throughout the Transatlantic race, I stayed in the race, focused and determined, to achieve the best possible time. There was no question of letting up until I crossed the finish line!"

"Of course, it's disappointing not to have broken that record. After months of preparation, anticipation, and hard work on this transatlantic race, I was dreaming of a victory. But I knew that attempting this record involved a significant amount of uncertainty and factors beyond my control. The boat performed flawlessly and I gave it my all, but the weather wasn't on my side. I'm focusing on the positives from this adventure: this transatlantic race was my best in terms of average speeds and performance in five years of offshore racing. Crossing the North Atlantic in a Mini- 6.50 is an accomplishment in itself, and I'm very proud of the work we accomplished with the team."

Quentin emphasizes:

"I'm very happy to have set a world record for the east-to-west Atlantic crossing this year—for Belgium, for my partners, and for my team. I'd like to thank them wholeheartedly for their support at every stage of this adventure. Without them, none of this would be possible.

Now, together with the team, we're going to focus 100% on what's next. Our next challenge will be to compete in the 2028 Vendée Globe. The journey to get there will be long, but we're approaching it with tremendous determination. The first step will be to bring together partners who will join us on this adventure."

Comments from BASILE ROCHUT, Quentin's route planner:

"Quentin has just navigated conditions that very few Mini 6.50s have ever faced. Even in 4.5-meter waves, Quentin would tell me, 'We're getting through this, let's keep going.' He really fought until the very end to achieve the minimum time. We had no luck with the weather; conditions deteriorated very quickly. Starting in the first week, the three expected areas of light winds turned out to be much larger and longer-lasting than anticipated. They cost us about twenty hours. The following week, the two forecasted low-pressure systems turned out to be more intense and were positioned further south. Quentin had to sail southeast to bypass areas where the waves were over 5 meters high—above 4.5 meters, the boat risks capsizing. These detours forced Quentin to take a longer route.

When we assessed the situation over the weekend of September 19-20, the weather conditions looked challenging, with gusts of nearly 40 knots, but favorable toward the end of the race, giving Quentin a chance to make up lost time.

In the end, conditions deteriorated again, with waves over 7 meters predicted along the direct route, forcing Quentin to head south to avoid them. The record was no longer within our reach. This really had nothing to do with a lack of performance on the part of the boat or the sailor, but rather with the unpredictable and highly variable weather conditions that forced Quentin to take a longer route."

Basile ROCHUT continues:

"Quentin has the perfect profile for breaking records—he never gives up! Mentally, he's as solid as a rock—persevering and patient. He capitalizes on every small opportunity to go faster, gain an edge on the route, and move closer to the record. During the Transatlantique, he told me, 'I'm kicking the door open to keep it open as long as possible.' Every time he lost a little time, he'd make it up. He never showed any sign of losing motivation, even in the toughest conditions. He never gave up; his competitive spirit always prevailed."

Denis Van Weynbergh, Quentin Debois's team manager for the 2028 Vendée Globe:

"What Quentin has just accomplished is a remarkable feat. Few sailors—even the big names—would be capable of taking on this kind of challenge; it's truly impressive! It takes a great deal of daring, courage, and self-sacrifice to tackle this kind of record. Boldness, because you have to dare to embark on this kind of project. Courage, because he's completely alone at sea. A great deal of self-sacrifice, because there are always plenty of problems during the crossing. Quentin had to deal with severe weather and equipment failures. He had to make repairs, cope with the challenges, and constantly give it his all. It paid off. Even if he didn't set the record, it doesn't matter. We knew the window of opportunity was very narrow. You never know at the start if everything will fall into place over more than two weeks. In any case, his performance commands respect."

Breakages and repairs at sea

Every sailor knows this: at sea, there's always something that needs to be repaired or replaced.

Quentin: "On the first night, the boat struck an object at sea—either wood or metal, judging by the sound of the impact. This damaged the port rudder. Fortunately, I had a spare and was able to replace it in a few hours. Then, on Friday, September 25, the tiller broke off—it came loose from its shaft. Five of the six screws securing the tiller to the shaft snapped clean off. I brought the boat to a stop to make the repair because the main autopilot was no longer usable., I was able to make the repair and set sail again a few hours later. These breakdowns obviously set me back in terms of time."

Quentin Debois concludes:

"This is just the beginning, and more challenges await my team and me. We're now focusing all our efforts on finding partners so we can be at the starting line of the next Vendée Globe in November 2028."

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