Optimum and Red Hot Mini Pepper, Winners of the First Palma-Melilla-Palma Edition

The second stage was marked by the harsh conditions of the initial 40 hours and by the activation of the rescue of two boats. The fleet praises the organization and hospitality of the Real Club Náutico de Palma and the Real Club Marítimo de Melilla.

The first edition of the Palma-Melilla-Palma A2 regatta concluded today, November 20th, with the victory of the French prototype "Optimum," skippered by Mateo Le Calvic and crewed by Arthur Meurise, and the Italian series boat "Red Hot Mini Pepper," by Nicolo Gamenara and Giacomo Nicchita. Both vessels, also winners in the first stage, have reaffirmed their dominance in this demanding competition for the Mini 6.50 class.

"Optimum" completed the 1,000 nautical miles of the two stages in 148 hours and 37 minutes, while "Red Hot Mini Pepper" took 154 hours and 59 minutes. The fleet, consisting of 30 boats after the retirements of "Chaner R." and "Rapscallion," crossed the finish line at the Real Club Náutico de Palma in a staggered manner during the early hours of the morning.

The overall winner, Mateo Le Calvic, emphasized the importance of this regatta for his project: "It was my first race aboard the Optimum after losing my previous boat in the Les Sables-Azores race. These 1,000 miles were crucial to be in next year's Mini Transat." About the second stage, Le Calvic explained that "it was very tough in the first 40 hours, where we managed to take the lead, but everything improved when the wind began to blow from the southwest and the fleet could sail downwind." He also praised the organization and treatment received in Palma and Melilla.

The second stage, between Melilla and Palma, was marked by the toughness of the first two days. Participants had to endure a long beat to Almería, with headwinds and heavy seas, conditions that caused breakdowns and damages to several boats. However, the last day and a half of sailing offered downwind conditions and allowed the Mini 6.50s to sail at high speeds in their natural direction, as these boats are designed for Atlantic conditions.

Miguel Rondón, skipper of the "Kristina II," with three Mini Transat editions under his belt, described this leg as "boat and people breaking conditions": "These sailboats are made for downwind sailing and we faced headwinds and rough seas. We suffered a bolt failure on the stay, which endangered the integrity of the mast, held up thanks to the baby stay. We sought a calm area near the coast to weather the storm and were able to continue, but lost six hours when we were among the fleet leaders." With the miles required for his fourth Mini Transat in 2025 already secured, Rondón joked that his participation "will ultimately depend on what my wife says."

During this leg, the organization activated a rescue protocol after detecting two boats by the tracking boat chartered by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and one of the participants, the Europe. The operation was coordinated with Maritime Rescue and ended with the rescue of 31 Sub-Saharan individuals. One of the boats, with 24 crew members, was adrift after losing control.

The "Suricate," by Tomás Ruiz and Carlos Manera, was the highest-placed Spanish boat, finishing fifth in the series category. Manera, runner-up in the last Mini Transat in 2023, showed great consistency throughout the race. Other Spanish boats, the "Amuitz Sames Company," "Kristina II," and "Cristalmina-Majorica," finished in positions 12, 13, and 14, respectively.

Hugo Ramón, skipper of the "Cristalmina-Majorica" and promoter of the regatta as sailing delegate of the Real Club Náutico de Palma, highlighted the extreme conditions of the first leg: "The initial beat was especially tough, and in our case, the tactical decision to sail south, close to the Algerian exclusion line, penalized us." However, Ramón was satisfied with the organization and reception of the event: "The fleet appreciated the support received both in Palma and Melilla. For most, the important thing was to accumulate the necessary miles for the Mini Transat 2025."

The Palma-Melilla-Palma A2, organized by the Real Club Náutico de Palma and the Real Club Marítimo de Melilla, has been rated in its first edition as the most important race of the Mediterranean circuit.