Artemis Offshore Academy Mini Class sailor Becky Scott prepares to set sail in the single-handed 2540nm Les Sables – Azores – Les Sables, the highlight event in this years Class Mini calendar starting on the 29th July at 12:02 (BST). After a promising start to the season for Becky Scott, finishing 2nd series boat in the 290nm UK Solent 6.50 and 12th Series boat in the 200nm Trophée Marie Agnes Peron (MAP).
Scott, the only British entrant in this years race, is aiming to build on her positive start to the season: “I have had a great season so far and have come on such a long way from last year,” said Scott. “My goals for this race are to stay positive and keep pushing until the finish, it will be both physically tough and mentally challenging through out.”
The race starts in the famed home of the Vendee Globe, Les Sables d’Olonne, France before taking the 39 strong fleet of 28 series and 11 proto boats south, then west to Horta, Azores and back again. As the next edition of the biannual Mini Transat 6.50 race is in 2013, Les Sables – Azores – Les Sables is the highlight event for the Class Mini fleet this year. The Class Mini is a highly-competitive training ground for ambitious new solo offshore skippers looking to make a name for themselves following in the footsteps of sailors like Ellen MacArthur who also started her solo yacht racing career in this highly-competitive fleet.
“My performance in the Trophée Marie Agnes Peron has given me a massive boost and given me the belief that I can race up there with the top guys,” reports Scott “Realistically I want to be in the top 10 and the dream would be to be in the top 5, but finishing the race in itself will be a big achievement, it’s a long way in a small boat!” Academy Performance Director John Thorn furthers, “The Les Sables - Azores - Les Sables is the culmination of 18 months of preparation and training for Becky who has shown great form recently. This category A solo race is second only to the Mini Transat 6.50 in length and difficulty and barring any unforeseen difficulties we are quietly confident she should do well"
The Les Sables – Azores – Les Sables is the longest solo race Scott will have competed in and will be a real test of her offshore faculties as she explains, “I need to constantly make sure I’m going fast, whilst balancing this with looking after the boat and myself: getting enough sleep, eating enough, making sure I stay on top of any repairs required on the boat.” This balancing act during racing is one of the hardest aspects of solo sailing.
The race is expected to take between seven to ten days, however, in 2010 the first Series boat finished in just six days.“A key point in the race will be rounding Cape Finisterre, a famous place for sailors due to the difficult wave conditions and strong winds” details Scott. “Cape Finisterre is also a key decision point in the race, head south and trying to pick up the trade winds off Portugal. Or straight for the Azores, taking the northern approach to the island.”
In 2010, the fleet met the current on the return journey and were propelled back into Les Sables d’Olonne at high speeds, compared with in 2008 where competitors were pushed back on the outbound journey and clocked up additional 11 days en route to Horta. Last year’s winner, Bertrand Delesne completed the race in 12 days, 1 hour, 42 minutes and 19 seconds. Delesne has also held the record for furthest distance travelled point to point since 2010, covering 304.09nm over 24 hours in his Prototype.
Prior to the race start Scott will race the double-handed prologue with fellow Academy sailor Robin Elsey on Wednesday 25th July at 11:00 (BST). Expected conditions for the prologue is a 15 knot seabreeze and scorching sun. Scott is due to start on the first leg of the Les Sables – Azores – Les Sables on Sunday 29th July at 12:02 (BST).
Race: Les Sables - Azores - Les Sables
Distance: 2540nm
Legs: Two
Class: Mini
Boat: Mini 6.50 Proto/Series
Competing Nationalities: 11
Start: 29th July 2012
From : Artemis Offshore Academy
Credit :Artemis Offshore Academy
Scott, the only British entrant in this years race, is aiming to build on her positive start to the season: “I have had a great season so far and have come on such a long way from last year,” said Scott. “My goals for this race are to stay positive and keep pushing until the finish, it will be both physically tough and mentally challenging through out.”
The race starts in the famed home of the Vendee Globe, Les Sables d’Olonne, France before taking the 39 strong fleet of 28 series and 11 proto boats south, then west to Horta, Azores and back again. As the next edition of the biannual Mini Transat 6.50 race is in 2013, Les Sables – Azores – Les Sables is the highlight event for the Class Mini fleet this year. The Class Mini is a highly-competitive training ground for ambitious new solo offshore skippers looking to make a name for themselves following in the footsteps of sailors like Ellen MacArthur who also started her solo yacht racing career in this highly-competitive fleet.
“My performance in the Trophée Marie Agnes Peron has given me a massive boost and given me the belief that I can race up there with the top guys,” reports Scott “Realistically I want to be in the top 10 and the dream would be to be in the top 5, but finishing the race in itself will be a big achievement, it’s a long way in a small boat!” Academy Performance Director John Thorn furthers, “The Les Sables - Azores - Les Sables is the culmination of 18 months of preparation and training for Becky who has shown great form recently. This category A solo race is second only to the Mini Transat 6.50 in length and difficulty and barring any unforeseen difficulties we are quietly confident she should do well"
The Les Sables – Azores – Les Sables is the longest solo race Scott will have competed in and will be a real test of her offshore faculties as she explains, “I need to constantly make sure I’m going fast, whilst balancing this with looking after the boat and myself: getting enough sleep, eating enough, making sure I stay on top of any repairs required on the boat.” This balancing act during racing is one of the hardest aspects of solo sailing.
The race is expected to take between seven to ten days, however, in 2010 the first Series boat finished in just six days.“A key point in the race will be rounding Cape Finisterre, a famous place for sailors due to the difficult wave conditions and strong winds” details Scott. “Cape Finisterre is also a key decision point in the race, head south and trying to pick up the trade winds off Portugal. Or straight for the Azores, taking the northern approach to the island.”
In 2010, the fleet met the current on the return journey and were propelled back into Les Sables d’Olonne at high speeds, compared with in 2008 where competitors were pushed back on the outbound journey and clocked up additional 11 days en route to Horta. Last year’s winner, Bertrand Delesne completed the race in 12 days, 1 hour, 42 minutes and 19 seconds. Delesne has also held the record for furthest distance travelled point to point since 2010, covering 304.09nm over 24 hours in his Prototype.
Prior to the race start Scott will race the double-handed prologue with fellow Academy sailor Robin Elsey on Wednesday 25th July at 11:00 (BST). Expected conditions for the prologue is a 15 knot seabreeze and scorching sun. Scott is due to start on the first leg of the Les Sables – Azores – Les Sables on Sunday 29th July at 12:02 (BST).
Race: Les Sables - Azores - Les Sables
Distance: 2540nm
Legs: Two
Class: Mini
Boat: Mini 6.50 Proto/Series
Competing Nationalities: 11
Start: 29th July 2012
From : Artemis Offshore Academy
