Singapore's first Mini Transat underway, sponsor now wanted!

by Asian Edition on 2 Jun 2004 Bi-annually, 70 sailors take on the Atlantic Ocean in 21’ mini class boats to sail from France to Brazil. Started in 1977 by Bob Salmon, the Mini Transat is one race that allows sailors, from amateur to professional level, to enter into a world class single-handed off-shore sailing event with a relatively small budget.

The Mini Transat has attracted many followers and participants from all over the world since its inception.

This time around, in 2005, the Mini Transat fleet will include a Singaporean attempt. It will be one of the few Asian entries ever in the event. So far, there have only been entrants from Japan and Elaine Chua’s entry might very well be the first female attempt from Asia.

Since completing the BT Global Challenge on-board the yacht Save the Children, in 2001, and after months of trying to get back onto the Singaporean bandwagon of working professionals, Elaine chose to go into sailing-full time and has since made this her chosen career.

For Elaine, the desire for sailing and the challenges that blue water ocean sailing offer are just too strong.

After sailing in the Asian yachting scene for the last three years on various racing yachts, Elaine has now set her sights for bigger races in Europe. She is leaving no stone unturned in the boat’s preparations and getting herself qualified for the Mini Transat race, which is just one year away.

With the support of her home club, the Republic of Singapore Yacht Club and it’s commodore who has graciously sponsored the boat, Elaine is off to sail across the Atlantic ocean as best as she can and believes that the competitors in Mini Transat sailing scene are really like one big family.

After rubbing shoulders with the participants and gleaning valuable jewels of information before the start of last year’s race in La Rochelle, she commented that the Mini Transat is indeed 'every bit a solo race, but you’re not alone.'

Elaine is currently in Europe preparing her Mini Transat boat to campaign in and the hunt for corporate sponsorship to see her through the 16-month campaign is still on.

For more details on the fantastic media opportunities and updates of Elaine Chua’s Mini Transat campaign, go to www.elainechua.com