‘Teamwork Evolution’ – Winner of the Transat 6.50 Second Leg

'Teamwork Evolution' *

Every two years the Charante-Maritime Transat 6.50 Race brings exciting news of sailors breaking records, either on the first or second legs. This year the very experienced David Raison, solo skipper of ‘Teamwork Evolution’, beat the second leg record time for sailing from Madeira to Salvador Bahia by twenty minutes. This leg of the race is a distance of 3,120 nautical miles, and it took him 17 days, 6 hours and 13 minutes to complete, at an average speed of 7.53 knots.


His Prototype mini was markedly different from the others by having a rounded, scow-shaped bow. The innovative yacht enabled him to sail faster than the others when beam reaching and running, and, as the course was mainly downwind, it gave him a significant advantage.


Mini 6.50 racing takes place throughout the year, and it is not solely about racing across the Atlantic. Therefore I cannot see skippers opting en masse for boats with scow-shaped bows, because I doubt such yachts will prove to be good all-round performers.

'Rattle and Hum' Keith Willis's Pogo2 raced in the 2009 Transat Mini 6.50


Thinking of these things, I am reminded of my chance encounter with Keith Willis who participated in the 2009 Transat 6.50 Race. I met him at Lymington Yacht Club when I was there with my Paradox sailboat. I had hoped he would be in this year’s race, but that was not the case. From his website I gather that his Pogo2, ‘Rattle and Hum’ is for sale.**


** Addendum: Keith Willis has told me that 'Rattle and Hum' was sold withing 3 hours of being advertised!


Text for the Day

Ecclesiastes 9:11 ‘I returned and saw under the sun that – The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favour to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.’


*Note - This is a cropped photo of my computer screen.



Links


Winner of Transat 6.50

http://www.yachtingworld.com/news/530009/winner-of-the-transat-6-50


Fantastic Victory for David Raison

http://www.thedailysail.com/offshore/11/60195/0/david-raison-wins-mini-transat


Preparing for Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6.50

http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/?article=159331


Charente Maritime Bahia Transta 6.50

http://www.charentemaritime-bahia.transat650.net/en/


Teamwork Sailing – 3 Boats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1XE4AwQZ2dU#!


Mini Transat 6.50

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_Transat_6.50


Unofficial Mini Transat 6.50 Website

http://www.minitransat650.com/


Min Transat 6.50 Race

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2009/10/mini-transat-650-race.html


Mini 650 Racing Yacht

http://bills-log.blogspot.com/2009/10/mini-650-racing-yacht.html


Keith Willis Details

http://www.sailing.org/1622.php?memberid=56757


UK Mini 650 Class – Keith’s Website

http://open650.org.uk/


Keith’s GBR 440 is for Sale

http://minitransat440.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/gbr440-is-for-sale/


Keith’s Account of his 2009 Transat 6.50 Race

http://yachtpals.com/node/7390