In light of the success of the 6.50, the Classe Mini, presided over by Antoine Grau, set their sights on launching a brand new single-handed offshore race alternating with the Mini-Transat. Following the invitation to tender issued last spring the Classe Mini is today able to announce its decision to elect Sirius Evénements as organiser of this fantastic course from Nantes – Azores and back for the years 2006 and 2008.

With close to 430 members, the Classe 6.50 is taking care to hold onto the same values that have assured its success in the past: its seamanship, the solidarity between racers and the controlling of costs. With a constant focus on safety the accompanying sporting development of these ‘technological bombshells’ has seen the prototypes being the source of a number of design innovations repeated in races like the Vendée Globe.

The race starts on Sunday 30th July with a sprint along the Loire river before the solo sailors head out to sea for the 2600 mile course taking them to the Azores and back over two legs.

Competitors are set to reach Horta on the island of Faial in around ten days. After around a week in Horta, incorporating the traditional festival of the sea, the competitors will take to the open ocean once more on Tuesday 15th August, bound for Nantes.