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D12 Mini Transat : Crossing the Atlantic

D12 Mini Transat : Crossing the Atlantic

 

760 milles left to Guadeloupe
Mark is now 760 miles from Guadeloupe, with 70% of the course behind him.
Just a few more days at sea. He’s expected to arrive early next week, most likely between Monday and Tuesday.

 

He’s been sailing fast over the past few days, with stronger trade winds helping the miles fly by. That must have been good for morale, even if not exactly restful.

 

At the front of the fleet, the first prototype boats are expected to arrive this Saturday, with the leading serie boats following on Sunday evening or Monday morning.
 

Life on board
Temperatures, both air and water, have continued to rise over the past few days, making life on board anything but easy. The salty humidity takes a toll on the skin, and the body must be feeling the strain.

 

Speaking of strain
 let’s talk about sleep.

At night, the race doesn’t stop. The wind and waves make no distinction, carrying the boat forward mile after mile. 

 

So, no chance for a full 8-hour night. Mark has to rely on short naps : 20 to 40 minutes at a time, waking regularly to check that everything is in order on deck, that no other boats are on a collision course, that the wind hasn’t shifted, and that the boat is still properly trimmed.

 

Sometimes, conditions are too unstable or demanding for the autopilot, so naps have to wait. Finding the right balance between rest and performance is essential. When lucidity fades, mistakes can happen—and in offshore racing, they can be serious. Most skippers have experienced hallucinations during long races, simply due to exhaustion.

 

Since the start of the crossing, Mark seems to be in his element at sea, managing his fatigue with skill and composure.
 

Current Standings and Strategic Moves 
Mark is currently positioned toward the northern edge of the fleet.
With the wind now coming from due east, he’s having to alternate gybes to make progress toward Guadeloupe.

 

He’s maintained the strong pace of recent days and is holding his place in the top 25!

 

According to the latest reports, the wind remains quite unstable, especially in strength, which makes conditions on board particularly demanding. Mark has to adjust the sails frequently and stay alert to take over from the autopilot whenever the changes become too abrupt.

 

We don’t have precise details, but a nearby competitor dismasted yesterday morning. Fortunately, all is well on board, and he’s continuing toward Guadeloupe with a jury rig. It’s a clear sign that conditions out there are intense!
 

Upcoming Weather and Tactical Choices
In these final days of racing, the wind is expected to remain in the same general pattern.
Mark will need to keep playing with its instability to find the best angles and make the most of each tack.

 

As he gets closer to Guadeloupe, he’ll start encountering squalls, cloud formations packed with strong winds and often heavy rain. Anticipating these squalls is key, as they can be violent and cause damage on board.

 

Focus will be essential all the way to the finish
 
Follow the entire race via the live tracking map :
Just look for boat number 946 – MINI SKIPPY in the “SERIE” ranking.
TRACKER LINK
 
 
  ­
 

 

07 Nov, 2025 | 3 min read

Mini Transat Report 6 November

Mini Transat Report 6 November

The end is looming in sight with the Prototype  leaders expected to finish late Friday / early Saturday morning   For the rest of the fleet with 1/2 seeing the miles turn to under 1000 nm tactics will be foremost on their minds. 

While the prevailing wind direction is generally favourable to get to St Francis there are still variations in pressure and wind speed which each skipper must work out to determine their own strategy and tactics. 

This is most evident in a pack of 6 boats which Mark O’Connor is part of. Over the past 36 hours Mark has been both leading and at the back of this pack (position 18)  and all points in between. Currently he is ranked 24th at the back having taken an early decision to turn south to reach a more favourable wind stream. At time of writing the boats ahead could be considered to have consolidated their position ahead with Mark trailing 18th place by 25 miles. However with at least another 4 days to get to the finish there is plenty of time for lots of changes in the leader board. Mark has a clean passage of good pressure and winds in his path while the boats at 18th - 21st place ae facing into a soft patch in the near term. plenty to play for. 

Just to remind you all skippers have very limited real time information on board. While we can log into our favourite weather source and get excellent visuals for up to a week ahead, The Mini skippers however have no such luxury and rely solely on a broadcast by the race organisation daily, in French. giving the weather situation, the 48-hour forecast and the distance to the finish for each competitor. From this each Skipper must work out where the variations in pressure and wind speed is in relation to their current position and from that work out how best to use to advantage. 

 They can use a VHF to communicate with the boats close to them but this has a limited range of approx. 15 miles.  

At current rate of speed and forecast weather conditions we would expect Mark to finish sometime on Monday.

The other Irish Interest Grainne Costigan is approx. 140 miles behind Mark in 48 place. However it is important to remember that this is not strictly a race but more  a test of personal endurance and skill to navigate a tiny vessel across the Atlantic. All who achieve that are winners and worthy of every accolade and celebration !

Life on board

The air is warm, the water is warm, and the fast downwind surfs under spinnaker are back. But after 15 days at sea, the heat and salty humidity are making life on board increasingly challenging. To find a bit of comfort in these conditions, Mark brought along a small fan. According to past experience, it can become essential for getting any sleep in this sticky atmosphere.

Here’s a quick look at some of the must-haves aboard Mark’s boat!

Follow the entire race via the live tracking map :
Just look for boat number 946 – MINI SKIPPY in the “SERIE” ranking.
TRACKER LINK

 

Sean Doyle.

06 Nov, 2025 | 3 min read

Mark O’Connor – Mini Transat

Mark O’Connor – Mini Transat

Storm Gabriele, currently approaching the Portuguese coast, is proving to be particularly violent. Classified as Category 4, it ranks among the most powerful hurricanes of the year. With gusts reaching 60 knots and waves between six and eight meters, this weather system is comparable to Storm Ciaran, which swept across France two years ago.

Given these conditions, the Race Committee, in agreement with the event organizer, has decided to cancel the first leg. Gabriele is expected to hit the area as early as Saturday, allowing competitors still at sea to seek shelter under safer conditions.

Emmanuel Versace, organiser of La BoulangĂšre Mini Transat, explains this decision:
"The weather situation is very clear, and the storm promises to be devastating. Our priority is the safety of the competitors as well as the support boats. By warning them today, they have time to take shelter in good conditions. We are working with the ports on site so that they can best accommodate them. Â»

Boats are currently heading to the Spanish and Portuguese coasts seeking shelter 

Race management have made contact with Mark and he intends to dock in Cascais -this is approx 190nm from Marks current position he is currently making 3 kts so a long slog. 

We will be keeping watch and will update later 

Grainne Corrigan is further north and more likely heading to Porto not confirmed as yet 

Stage 2 set to start on schedule October 25th Santa Cruz de La Palma → Saint-François (Guadeloupe)

26 Sep, 2025 | 2 min read

NYC Sailors Clipper Journey

NYC Sailors Clipper Journey

Our sailors have reached Puerto Sherry after completing Leg 1 of the Clipper Round the World race.

Having battled force 8 winds, 6 metre waves and some of the worst conditions for race 1 in Clipper history,

Damiens Team Power of Seattle claimed 3rd place and sit 2nd overall, while Brian and Team Tongyeong sit in 6th.

Some well earned Rest in Puerto Sherry before the set off on Sunday on Leg 2, The South Atlantic Challenge, 5,300nm to Punta Del Este, Uruguay.

 

Wishing our sailors fair winds and safe passage.

 

Find your race tracker and follow the teams at www.clipperroundtheworld.com

12 Sep, 2025 | 1 min read

Our Sailors Take On Mighty Challenges Across the World

Our Sailors Take On Mighty Challenges Across the World

This month, National Yacht Club members are making waves on the global stage. From the Clipper Round the World Race to the Mini Transat and La Solitaire du Figaro, our sailors are proudly representing the club.

Damian Payne (@teampowerofseattlesports ) and Brian Uniacke (@team.tongyeong.clipperrace ) have set sail on the first leg of the Clipper Round the World Race.

This Sunday, Tom Dolan (@tomdolanskipper ) begins his defence of the La Solitaire du Figaro title.

Later this month, Mark O’Connor (@marksmini650 ) will embark on his solo Mini Transat adventure.

Everyone at the National Yacht Club wishes them fair winds, safe passage, and every success.
Please give them a follow and show your support as they take on these incredible challenges!

  

03 Sep, 2025 | 1 min read

Cruising Adventure – Wherever the wind takes us!

Cruising Adventure – Wherever the wind takes us!

Our Cruising Group will set sail 13th - 15th September; “Wherever the wind takes us” long weekend cruise.

Due to the unpredictable winds we have been getting over the last couple of seasons, we are suggesting a final cruise of the season without actually specifying a destination.

We will simply look at the forecast a few days beforehand and agree a favourable destination.

Please complete the “Expression of Interest” if you wish to join us.  

Register Here

19 Aug, 2025 | 1 min read

A Bit of A Stretch

A Bit of A Stretch

The plan was for the NYC cruising group to sail, in company, to the Isle of Man. It would be for some of the smaller boats a bit of a challenge, with the comfort of having other boats in the vicinity should something go wrong. Despite all the planning, a forecasted...

30 May, 2025 | 3 min read

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