Description
The Open 6.50m Mini (often just called the Mini 6.50 or Classe Mini 6.50) is the legendary high-performance offshore racing sailboat class behind the Mini Transat race — a grueling solo transatlantic crossing in tiny 21-foot (6.50-meter) yachts! These are not your average daysailers; they're cutting-edge machines built for speed, durability, and innovation in extreme ocean conditions.
The class uses a strict "box rule" (max length 6.50m, beam ~3m, draft ~2m) that encourages wild experimentation while keeping costs somewhat controlled. There are two main divisions:
Proto (prototype): Unlimited innovation — think canting keels, foils, scow bows, carbon everything, and even full foiling designs like the Pogo Foiler.
Série (production/series): More restricted (e.g., aluminum masts, no exotics) for affordability and repeatability.
These boats are rocket-fast, often planing at 15+ knots downwind, surviving massive waves, and pushing the limits of what a small solo boat can do. The Mini Transat race (biannual, solo from France to the Caribbean/Brazil) is a legendary proving ground for future ocean racers (many go on to IMOCA 60s or Vendée Globe).
