Le Gallais Sponsors Local Man in Mini Transat Race

The Mini Transat is a single-handed transatlantic race held every two years and has a high profile in the international offshore sailing world. Many famous sailors have been involved in the race, including names such as Ellen MacArthur, Michel Desjoyaux, Yves Parlier and Loic Peyron. Nowadays it is only a small handful of successful ocean racers that have not progressed by route of the Mini Transat. Originally a French orientated race when it began back in 1977, it now attracts sailors from all over Europe as well as USA and Canada. The transatlantic race is approximately 4,500 miles long and consists of two stages, firstly from La Rochelle to the Canary Islands, and then on to Salvador de Bahia in Brazil. The route leads the boats through challenging sailing waters, ranging from the notorious Bay of Biscay through to the fickle challenge of the Doldrums.

Purpose built, ocean going 21 foot boats are used in the race and bear very few restrictions. Competitors can attempt to qualify for one of two classes: the Prototype Class, a high profile class using boats with state of the art technology, or the Series Class consisting of one-design boats. Boats in both these classes are capable of breathtaking speeds and are the fastest ocean-going boats in the world for their size, known to reach speeds in excess of 20 knots. Altogether the race provides a supreme challenge that requires a combination of endurance, tactics and determination.

Phil Sharp was brought into the sailing world at a very early age on cruising yachts and started dinghy racing at university, where he studied Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College in London. He was soon selected as Commodore, and concluded his successful involvement by skippering the Imperial team to victory in the Offshore Race of the 2003 Student Yachting Nationals, despite this being his first yacht race.  Around his final exams he managed to secure a local sponsor, Le Gallais, with which to charter a Pogo1 series class Mini and compete in the summer qualifying races. With only one week between his last exam and the Mini Fastnet he successfully made the startline to take part in the 700 mile double-handed race from France to the Fastnet Lighthouse and back. Despite having never before sailed a mini, he finished in the top half of the series class, a very encouraging result in his first Mini race. 

He then took part in the Demi Cle and Transgascogne (a two-leg dash across Biscay to Spain and back), before returning to Cowes Week where he continued his success by skippering a team to overall victory in the Sunsail 36 class. He also finished 3rd in the U25 Young Skipper’s Trophy. With the contract on the chartered Mini finishing at the end of August, he then decided to take full advantage of the rental time of the boat by undertaking a non-stop 1000 mile Solo Qualifier. Although Phil couldn’t use it as qualification towards the 2005 Transat since he never intended to race a Transat in the rented boat, he treated the passage as a valuable experience in long distance single-handed sailing. After completing the course in 7.5 days he was convinced that he wanted to race a Mini Transat in two years time with the fastest and most innovative boat under his feet.

Phil decided to buy a very fast Magnen-designed prototype Mini, GBR 419, from Nick Bubb with which to launch a competitive entry into the 2005 Mini Transat, after competing in the 2004 and 2005 qualifying races.  First up on the qualifying agenda in 2004 though was another 1000-mile single-handed qualifying which he set off for in April and ended up being caught out in severe gales south of Ireland.  After being rolled 360° by a rouge wave, Phil was lucky enough not to lose the rig, and managed to make it to safely to shelter.  Undeterred, he restarted the course 2 weeks later and successfully completed this hurdle.  He then competed in his first single-handed race the Mini Cup, where he finished an encouraging 4th, followed by the Open Demi Cle, in which he finished a very consistent 4th, 6th, and 8th in each three legs, out of the 48 boat fleet.  Following these races Phil is now qualified to compete in next year’s grueling 4,500 mile Mini Transat. 

The results in 2004 have given Phil the confidence to aim for a top finish in the 2005 Mini Transat. With the appropriate sponsorship for next year, he believes a top 3 finish is realistically attainable and will be gathering as much racing experience and reliability in next year’s racing circuit to increase his chances of achieving this goal.

Due to the extremity, demands and competition in the race it is necessary to qualify for a Mini Transat. The first requirement is to complete more than 1000 miles in mini races. This can be achieved in some of the six or more qualifying races that are held each year. Secondly a 1000 mile Solo Qualifier must be completed. This is a course that must be sailed single-handed, with one stopover allowed, around a given route that ensures this distance is covered. All qualifying passages must be carried out in the boat the competitor wishes to qualify with for a Transat.

To find out more about this race, please visit Phil Sharp’s website at http://www.philsharp.net

Visit the official Transat site by click this link http://www.transat650.org/