Laterr tonight, Quentin Debois is expected to become the fastest person to sail a Mini Transat 6.50 solo, east to west across the Atlantic. The 38 year old Belgian sailor is crossing from Cadiz, Spain, to San Salvador in the Bahamas.
At the current pace, Debois is expected to finish in a little over 24 days, which is six days faster than the current record set by Aina Bauza (SP) in 2024.
The main navigational challenge of this record attempt was routing through two ridges extending from a high pressure zone, which brought lighter, shifty air in their wake. For the most part, Debois reported good speed, averaging in the 7.5-8.5 knot range, even as the boat took a beating with multiple torn sails.
The 4,000 mile biennial Mini Transat race in which the Minis compete does also cross the Atlantic east to west, but it is done in two legs with a stop in the Canaries, so competitive performances are not eligible for the record. Debois’ route was also required to round Gran Canaria to starboard, but minus the stop. To become official, the record will also need to be certified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.
The Mini Transat 6.50, as its name suggests, is a boat designed for crossing oceans. However, it’s hard to wrap your head around just how small it is until you see one in person. With an LOA of 21 feet (that’s just seven feet longer than a laser, for those who are counting) the Mini lives up to its name, and cramped and spartan conditions are part of the game for Debois and the rest of the fleet. Still, it’s a grueling way to spend weeks on end at sea.
In June of this year, Debois plans to cross the Atlantic again, this time from New York to England, attempting to break the return record currently set at 17 days, 9 hours, and 51 minutes.
For more from Debois as he finishes his bid to become the fastest Mini sailor to cross the Atlantic east to west, click here for his social media and here for the tracker.
