Checking in with Classe Mini skipper Ambre Hasson about her 2025 Mini Transat campaign
by David Schmidt 3 Apr 02:00 AEDT
April 2, 2025
It's one thing to dream big, but it's a different notion altogether to make one's dreams a reality. Ambre Hasson, the Franco-American skipper of On the Road Again II (618), a Finot-Conq designed prototype Classe Mini, is in the latter category. Hasson, who only learned to sail in 2020, has spent the last two years living in France and immersing herself in the culture and world of single- and short-handed sailing, with the goal of participating in the 2025 Mini Transat.
In that time, Hasson has learned a lot about sailing, short- and singlehanded sailing, and about her commitment to the sport and the challenge of racing a 21-footer across the Atlantic Ocean all alone.
It hasn't all been easy or fun.
Take, for example, the time when her first Mini ended up on the rocks. Or the times when she couldn't keep up with her training partners, especially on the downhill legs. Or some reality-check racecourse results.
Luckily, there have also been victories.
Take the day that Hasson found and acquired On the Road Again II (618). Or the day that she learned to push herself against her training partners, even with the kite up. Or some of her solid racecourse results from the last season, including a second-place finish in the Mini Transmanche 2024
It's been a journey getting to this place, but for Hasson, the real adventure begins in September with the start of the 2025 Mini Transat.
This is the fifth interview with Hasson in her lead-up to her transatlantic adventure, and I checked in with her, via email, to get the latest on her campaign.
(The first four interviews can be found here:
Part 1,
Part 2,
Part 3, and
Part 4.)
It's been about eight months since we last checked in. Can you please give us an idea of what a day on your life typically looks like, now that we're about five months from the start of the 2025 Mini Transat?
The past eight months have seen more behind-the-scenes action than actual sailing. I split my time managing partnerships from my laptop, hands-on boat work (sanding, patching, you name it), and doing speaking engagements to share my journey.
It's quite a shift, switching from yard work to screen work, but it always makes for a good story on those video calls from the boatyard!
How much time each week are you spending at the gym or out running/cycling, etc.? Or do you have a different training regime going on?
I workout about three times a week, mixing running for endurance—reminiscent of my marathon days—and strength training. Lately, my strength sessions involve long-boarding my hull, [which is] surprisingly effective! I throw in some cycling and other outdoor activities to keep it varied.
What have you been working on in terms of refitting the boat? Are we talking about a full refit, or are you focusing mostly on the areas where you'll likely see the biggest ROIs?
I've fully dismantled my boat to inspect and overhaul every aspect of it, effectively turning it into what looks more like a spaceship than a sailboat. I've replaced fatigued hardware like the keel bearing, repaired a significant crack beneath an old carbon patch on the freeboard, and added CNC-machined carbon plate reinforcements for deck hardware.
I've also inventoried and replaced all lines, including outdated standing rigging, and I'm in the process of repainting the entire vessel. Balancing these upgrades with a tight budget has been challenging—deciding to replace the €1000 keel bearings, despite initial budget constraints, was particularly tough but necessary due to significant wear.
You mentioned that you have a new rig. What are the details of your new set-up?
I've upgraded from old PBO rigging to new SK99 rigging, thanks to support from my new technical sponsor, Robline. This change was necessary as the old rig was four years old and showing signs of fatigue.
Additionally, I've increased the purchase in the rigging to simplify adjustments to the rig's rake. I'm also enhancing other key areas, such as my 3D system for trimming the jib and the mechanism for lifting the daggerboards, to improve overall performance.
Did you also replace some (or all) of your sails? If so, can you please walk us through new additions to your inventory?
Unfortunately, due to budget constraints, I haven't been able to update my sails yet. I'm particularly concerned about my mainsail and Code 0, both of which urgently need replacing. Designing the Code 0 is challenging because it must perform well in both heavy air (reaching/broad reaching) and light air (close reaching).
Given my experience and the optimization of my spinnakers for downwind VMG, it makes sense to focus the Code 0's design on heavy conditions, where I currently feel most constrained.
What races are you planning on participating in this year? Also, what attracts you to these particular races, given the menu of Classe Mini events that you have to choose from?
This year, I'm focusing on the Mini en Mai, a 500nm solo challenge, and the Fastnet, a 600nm double-handed race. I'm also considering the Puru Transgascogne, another 600nm solo race in the Bay of Biscay, which mirrors the route we'll take during the Transat.
The strategy is to stay sharp without overextending—both the boat and myself. My goal is to head into the Transat bursting with energy, having balanced intense competition with ample offshore training.
What do you see as your biggest strengths going into the Mini Transat?
That's a fantastic question. I believe my mental strength is one of my biggest assets—the journey to this point has been long and full of unexpected challenges, which I've learned to navigate both on land and at sea.
I'm also comfortable in heavy conditions and know how to safely push my boat to its limits. After countless hours of working on my boat, I know it inside out. While I haven't tested it over such long distances yet, I'm confident in my ability to handle any issues that might arise.
As a follow-up to that last one, what do you see as your biggest weaknesses? And how do you plan to address these in the next five months?
I need to improve on weather strategy and navigation for oceanic racing, which is quite different from the coastal offshore racing I've experienced so far. Although I've been trained theoretically, applying these strategies in the real world is another challenge. Over the next five months, I'll focus on practical application through simulations and real-world practice to bridge the gap between theory and actual conditions.
You mentioned that you have some new sponsors. Who are they, and what has been your most successful pitch angle (or angles) to differentiate yourself from the other Mini Transat entrants?
Yes, I've been fortunate to gain support from a wonderful array of sponsors. As a Franco-American skipper, my journey appeals globally, which aligns well with partners like Adjuvoo, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, Solib, Nautix, Robline, Helly Hansen, Spinlock, MX3, NV Charts, and 727 Sailbags.
This dual heritage enriches my campaign, resonating across two cultures and broadening the appeal. Sharing my authentic, gritty sailing story has struck a chord, resonating more deeply than many high-profile campaigns. It's about real adventure, real challenges, and a real person tackling them head-on.
Is there anything else about your campaign and your preparations for this year's Mini Transat that you'd like to add, for the record?
It really hit me when I saw my name on the official list for the Mini Transat, the only one with 'USA' next to it, that I am setting off solo across the Atlantic in five months. All those hours working on my boat, dealing with the naysayers, waking from nightmares of losing another boat, and days where pasta was all I could afford—it's all been building up to this moment.
Those endless surfs to Guadeloupe, the ocean all to myself, and the faces of loved ones waiting in the Caribbean. Now the hard truth is that as of today, I'm still short on funds to ensure I can start, let alone finish. We're hustling to find the partners to get me, and us, to that finish line.
[Editor's note: Hasson's website is www.ambresails.com, her email address is , and her Instagram handle is @ambre_sails.]