In December 2018, the Classe Mini issued a call for tenders to designate the organizer of the next three editions of the Mini Transat. After receipt of the files in June 2019 and interviews conducted at the end of October/beginning of November, two files were selected.
The Sables-d'Olonne Vendée Offshore Racing project and its Mini Transat project between Les Sables-d'Olonne and Saint-François (Guadeloupe), with a stopover in Santa Cruz de la Palma (Canary Islands) and that of the Collectif Rochelais, which proposed an arrival in Brazil.
"We had two very comparable and solid files, both financially and on the ports of departure, call and arrival, with feasible routes. We are already working with these two collectives, but it is finally the Sablais project that has been selected" explains Sébastien Pebélier, president of the Classe Mini.
The 11 members of the Mini's Board of Directors met on December 6 to vote by secret ballot. "We voted objectively and taking into account all the elements brought by the two collectives", adds Sébastien.
It had been two editions - 2017 and 2019 - that the start was given from La Rochelle to Le Marin in Martinique. Before that, there were many cities where the Mini started and finished, even if the Finistère (Brest, Douarnenez, Concarneau) - Antilles (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin) route is often privileged
The La Rochelle - Brazil route - whose proposal was not accepted - was not totally unknown to the race since for 10 years, the ministes set off from Fort Boyard (Charente-Maritime), towards Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
What's going on at changer??
It is now the famous pontoons of Port Olona that will welcome the Ministries. "It is a symbolic place and so is the exit from the channel." explains Sébastien.
Instead of Las Palmas, it is now Santa Cruz de la Palma where the Ministries will stop. "It is a small island further west in the Canary Islands with a nature reserve. It will probably be more difficult to find something to repair the boats, but it remains accessible to the other islands."
Finally, Saint-François in Guadeloupe will replace Le Marin in Martinique as the arrival city.
"In the end, it won't change much in terms of the course. It is still a departure from the Bay of Biscay with one with hot air ballooning and a descent to the Canaries. For the West Indies, Guadeloupe is a little further north and so again, there are not too many changes" sébastien explains.
Before concluding: "With this route to the West Indies, the game remains open and that was also an argument. We'll have more play than on a Brazilian course against the old boats. Even if Brazil was a nice and changing destination, on this route, after the doldrums, it is a train-train reaching that would have been less favourable to them."
