Hugo Ramón faces the first stage of the Mini Transat amid an Atlantic front

The sailor from the Real Club Náutico de Palma competes for the fourth time in the flagship solo event for 6.50-meter boats. An Atlantic front has forced the organizers to establish a virtual waypoint north of Les Sables d’Olonne to ensure the safety of the 90 participants.

Mallorcan sailor Hugo Ramón set off yesterday, Sunday, September 21st, at 3:30 p.m., in the 25th edition of La Boulangère Mini Transat, marking his fourth participation in this solo ocean race. Held every two years, the Mini Transat is considered one of the most demanding events on the international calendar due to the small size of the boats (6.5 meters in length) and the explicit prohibition on maintaining contact with land during the crossing.

The start in the French town of Les Sables d’Olonne took place with moderate winds, although the organizers warned that conditions would become more challenging from last night with the arrival of an Atlantic front. To address this, the race committee established a waypoint (a mandatory virtual checkpoint) northwest of the port. This measure aims to allow the fleet to approach the crossing to Finisterre with favorable winds and under safer conditions.

Hours before the start, Ramón’s boat, ‘Cristalmina-Majorica’, was towed to the entrance of Les Sables d’Olonne at 12:40 p.m., amidst a crowd that filled the channel to bid farewell to the 90 participants. Thousands of spectators lined the docks and breakwaters to cheer on the sailors, who, in this first stage, will sail to Santa Cruz de La Palma (Canary Islands) before facing the Atlantic crossing to Guadeloupe.

Minutes before departure, the sailor from the Real Club Náutico de Palma outlined the main challenges of this first stage. He explained that the initial leg is particularly complex due to the influence of a depression in the North Atlantic. “The organizers have added a waypoint so we first head north, which will help us manage the passage of this front. There will be very strong gusts, making navigation difficult, not just about moving fast, but also keeping the boat safe,” he noted.

Ramón added that after crossing the Bay of Biscay, sailing down the Portuguese coast will bring further uncertainty. “I don’t have access to real-time weather updates, so every move has to be carefully considered. Later on, it may be necessary to tack toward the African coast to reach the Canary Islands with enough wind,” he explained.

The full Mini Transat course covers approximately 4,000 nautical miles in two stages: the first from Les Sables d’Olonne to La Palma, and the second from the Canary Islands to Guadeloupe, crossing the Atlantic from east to west. For participants, the challenge is not only physical but also logistical and psychological: they must sail very small boats alone, without communication with land, limited to basic routines of sleep, food, and onboard maintenance.

Returning at age 40, Ramón has already competed in this race three times. During his preparation, he acknowledged that the hardest part of the Mini Transat is the uncertainty accompanying every tactical decision and the emotional management of solitude. “The ocean amplifies everything you feel: fear, calm, euphoria, gratitude. That’s why this race is more than just a competition,” he reflected days before the start.