2006

It was created in 1976 by the Bob Briton Salmon like answer and protest to economic wastefulness and the great technological needs that it supposed to participate in the Great Transat. Mini as she were well-known until does few years had to be within reach of any pocket and for that reason a length settled down limit of 6.50 meters. One organizes every 2 years and in first editions it was reflected east spirit of modesty and simplicity. In last editions 2 classifications have been created; One of them with very innovating boats `the prototypes' and the other with the series boats, so that whatever it wishes truly it can participate.

Transat 6.50 has become with the years a test reigns necessary for any Skipper that wants to alone work a future within the world of the races. And all this without resigning to one of its main characteristics; modest and reasonable budgets.  

The first editions left from Penzance (the United Kingdom) to Old, happening through Tenerife. The first edition of 1977 had 23 participants and in spite of the modest budgets of the organization a success was everything. After 38 days of navigation, 19 participants arrive at the goal. Daniel Gilard commented: “We ran the risk of sinking, to burn us to the sun, to cross the Atlantic in exchange for anything. We did not run by money. Simply by the beauty of the fact, by love to the candle and to these small boats, we were able to accept it everything. I believe that to love the sea he is exactly this”. It finished being born a new class; Transat 6,50. In the 79 already 39 participants were enrolled for the exit, among them: the young Van Den Heede, Lionel Péan, and Loïck Peyron, but is a North American, Northon Smith, who is able to prevail, reducing in 6 days the time of the first edition. VandenHeeden still recognizes in these days the affection by this test “Leaving of side the return to the world, I do not know no other test so extraordinary. In the end there are so many winners as participant. Sport speaking, I prefer to gain a Transat 6.50 to a Route of the Rum”.

In 1981 the Irene cyclone decimates the number of participants during the first stage, obtaining finally the victory Jacques Poignon, although the hero of this edition is the Canadian Steve Callaghan that two days after leaving the Canary Islands, sinks and is able to survive after passing 56 days in its life raft feeding itself on fish to the purest style `Alain Bombard', until falling finally over the coasts of the Antilles.  

In the edition of the 83 they participate to 43 boats presenting/displaying like newness the possibility of participating in pairs. Also they appear the first movable riggings in Kevlar, and the first ballasts. One becomes to reduce the total time of the race, this time in only 18 hours. In 1985 the organization happens to French hands and the route modifies, leaving since then from Britain in Brest, doing scale in Tenerife and arriving at Guadalupe. `The Coco appears the famous boat of series', although some like Yves Parlier, that in the end would be the winner of this edition, construct their own prototype, terribly innovating, with carbon wood shrouds in Kevlar, carbon rudders and mirror of stern in panels of nest of bee in kevlar and carbon. “After making it in a corner of France, to him I took lent Peugeot 205 woman, I transported and it in the ceiling…” In the end it ends almost 70 hours of advantage against the classified second.


In 1987 Gilles Chiorri in front of Laurent Bourgnon and Isabelle Autissier wins, imposing a frenetic rate that improves the record of Parlier in 38 hours. Laurent Bourgnon would comment “Is the pure spirit of the candle, the one that master. It is accessible to everybody…”. From 1989 it is only possible to be competed in pair with series boats. In 1991 68 participants score of who 4º classified is a young person, Michel Desjoyeaux that later would become winner of mythical the Vendée Globe, and that comments “These boats is true laboratories of the candle. I experienced in the Transat the 6.50 first pendular keels and tangón outer adjustable. Transat 6.50 is a step forced for any regatista of race”.

In the 93 the meteo forces to annul 1º stage and to transfer all the boats until Madeira. The second stage from Madeira to San Martin, is fastest of history, prevailing Thierry Dubois with a prototype boat, and making 8 knots of average. 

In 1995 Ivan Bourgnon wins that comments “If you totally only are in front of the ocean. There is contact of permanent no radio, you cannot call to `mother'. If you want to go to the end, this is the race that you need. You finish when it - and with more reason you gain if it, you manage to see further on. This Transat remains like the best one of my memories”.  In 1997 and the 1999, Sebastián Magnen wins, and is in the 99 when the Transat appears in scene the English Ellen MacArthur “was pleasant to me by the great trips. I will never forget it”.

In 2001 Transat 6.50 releases new salient route from Brest, to Lime Port in Lanzarote, and Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, having to cross the famous participants “the DollDrums”, zone of calm in the ITCZ. In 2003 two desarboladuras take place, and the French Armel Tripon gains in prototypes in front of the Alex Spanish Pellet. In series boats Erwan Tymen wins, and to two miles of the goal Michel Mirabel it sends itself against rocks. In 2005 the record of participants with 72 inscriptions is fought, unequivocal symptom of the good health of a race that already represents one of the most important challenges of the world-wide candle.