An Example of What Works

We have all seen the examples. Pursuit starts, random legs, weekday summer races. Keep it casual, smartly use rating systems, and focus on your core constituent. To get butts in boats, and crowds on the start line, you must aim for the fat section of the target.

So it came as no surprise to hear that 88 boats, solo or duo sailed, are now racing in the Transquadra from Madeira to Martinique. This is one of the most famous transatlantic races we have never heard of; the biggest for production boats.

While media attention gets recruited for highly competitive commercial contests, this westward contest excludes professional racers as well as all young sailors trying to become professionals.

This is a race for amateurs and old timers that are at least 40 years old. Additionally, their boats must fit within a narrow IRC handicap range: no less than 0.949 and no more than 1.051. For length, boats are no less than 8.50m and not more than 12.50m, and all Category A (ocean voyage) boats.

This short gap on boat speeds allows that most of the time, the boat that has line honors is also the boat that wins the race and if not, it is among the first.

The bigger boats racing are a First 40.7 and a Wauquiez Opium 39, fast performance cruisers that are competing with smaller boats among them many JPK (9.60, 10.10, 10.80, 38FC), Sunfast 3200 and 3600, Pogo 30, Ofcet 32, J11S, Bepox 990, Bongo 9.60, A31, A35, Mistral 950 and Dufour 36P.

A race for amateurs, racing closely matched boats… an example of what works.

Race details – Tracker – Facebook

Source: interestingsailboats.blogspot.com