Braidwood and Wombat ready for Transat 6.50

by Tom Braidwood on 12 Sep 2007 The Transat 6.50 (formerly the Mini Transat) race is known as one of the most extreme yachting events in the world. It is a single handed, Trans Atlantic event in the smallest offshore boats travelling over 4500 miles over two legs.

The race is held every two years and sailors must qualify to be included in the largest offshore fleet of one class. Organisers limit the number of yachts to seventy boats each race for safety reasons.

Tom Braidwood and Wombat are aiming o be the first Australian boat to compete and win the race.

From Tom’s diary:
After three and a half years of work, the race is finally here! Five days to go until the big day. I have been dreaming off starting this race since I was a kid and the day has come. I have to admit I'm pretty nervous but also excited and even relieved that I've got this far and it's actually really happening.

I have so many people to thank; you all know who you are and how much you've helped me. Thank you for getting me to the start line. I guess now it's all up to me to get the result we deserve and be the first to Brazil.

To follow the race you can go to the transat 650 website and see how I'm doing.

We have a great little send off crew, Belinda and Yardley are obviously here, my Uncle David and Auntie Meryl have come all the way from the Lake to see me off and give me a hand with the last minute preparations, the Woodruffs who have been helping us since the start and John Hilderbrand who finished off looking after the build when I had to go and start the Volvo. It's great to have them all here and it means a lot to me and Bin to have them around this week.

Well again thank you all, I really wouldn't be here with out you.
Tom Braidwood

About the Race - from Tom's website:

In modern times most yachts in long offshore events use onboard computers with internet access and satellite phones however, during this extreme event there is basically no communication. The boats are allowed to radio for their skeds and get a very limited weather briefing each day.

Leg one – La Rochelle, France to The Canary Islands
The Bay of Biscay is known as some of the most trying waters on earth, a perfect place to start this extreme event. The area, famous for its strong winds and powerful waves pushing sailors and their boats to the limit. The Trade winds of the Atlantic will push the boats to the Canaries and the next stage.

Leg two – The Canary Islands to Salvador, Brazil
The doldrums brings its own challenges; many yacht races have been won or lost in these eerie waters. The wind can stop for days on end and rain clouds move around the bay. The large squalls of the tropics create more challenges for the sailors.

The Dangers and Challenges
· It takes about 14 minutes for a freighter to reach you from the horizon. They will not see a mini boat; it is up to the sailor to stay out of the ships way. However you are alone – there is no one keeping watch while you're asleep.
· Wind squalls in the Bay of Biscay and across the Atlantic are common. The mini boat is extremely over powered. A big gust of wind could easily capsize you putting not only the boat but the sailor's life in danger. Many sailors have had to resign from the race due to broken boats or bones.
· When you are not steering and trimming sails you are not sailing at your optimum speed – your competition could catch you at any moment.
· There is no fridge or real cooking facilities – you are working hard and burning kilojoules – how do you keep your strength?

www.tombraidwood.com