Mini Transat - Final preparations to the starting line

by Mini Transat 2013 on 9 Oct 2013 At the Mini Transat, in the Port Rhu, safety and measurement controllers are making their final checks aboard the 84 Minis moored along the docks. In a rather serene atmosphere, given the weather conditions and forecasts for the start of the race atmosphere, everyone is completing their preparations. Everyone will be on the starting line.

In every sport there must be rules of the game and this is also the case in the Mini Transat. In the first exchanges between Douarnenez Courses and the Mini Class, it was mutually agreed that the number of competitors allowed to start the race would be limited to 84. Given the requirements of Maritime Affairs that there be one support boat provided for every 12 competitors on the one hand, and the volume of information to be processed by the race directorate on the other, that figure was identified as the upper limit of that could be managed sensibly.

Therefore, the rules of the Mini Class are applied and as for each edition, a waiting list was established by order of the date on which the competitor finalised their documentation. Whenever there were withdrawals, those from the top of the waiting list were able to join the final list for the 2013 edition, but there remain a final list of ten candidates who will not take part in the adventure. Today, all competitors in Port Rhu have clearly indicated their intention to be at the start and all the verification procedures for security and equipment are proceeding normally. Except in case of last minute force majeure, the 84 soloists from Port Rhu will be on the starting line.