Sailor Aina Bauzá presents her project for the Mini Transat 2023 at the Palma International Boat Show

• The sailor from the Club de Vela Port d’Andratx (CVPA) has her sights set on becoming the first Balearic woman to cross the Atlantic solo in 2023, without assistance or fuel consumption, using only the wind and a solar panel on board
• After securing funding for this challenge, Bauzá is now concentrating on adding up the miles needed to participate in the Mini Transat 2023 and on fine-tuning her boat, the 6.50 metre Mini ‘Redó’

Mallorcan sailor Aina Bauzá has presented her project to become the first Balearic woman to cross the Atlantic solo in the Mini Transat 2023 at the Palma International Boat Show.

After obtaining funding for this challenge, thanks to the sponsorship of Ànima Negra and B&G and the generosity of dozens of sponsors, including companies and individuals, the sportswoman from the Club de Vela Port d’Andratx (CVPA) is now concentrating on adding up the miles needed to participate in the Mini Transat and on fine-tuning her boat, the ‘Redó, a 6.5-metre Mini with which she wants to cross the Atlantic without assistance and without fuel consumption, just with the wind and a solar panel on board.

Recently, Bauzá was getting her first taste of solo sailing aboard the ‘Redó’ by successfully participating in the Solo Med 2022 offshore regatta, in which she sailed 560 miles in the waters of Barcelona and the Balearic Islands, thus obtaining part of the 1,500 nautical miles she needs to accumulate in a regatta in order to be able to participate in the Mini Transat.

During her appearance, accompanied by some of her sponsors, Bauzá explained in detail the current status of the project and the next steps she is going to take in order to fulfil her dream of the Mini Transat next year. In order to take part in this demanding offshore race, sailors must have sailed 1,500 miles in a regatta and another 1,000 miles solo. Thus, the sailor has detailed the details of her next challenges, such as achieving these solo miles sailing from Mallorca to Corsica and back, and taking part in the Mare Nostrum regatta this summer.

With a 4,000-mile course divided into two legs (Les Sables d’Olonne-La Palma and La Palma-Guadalupe), the Mini Transat is one of the most demanding transoceanic races in the world. Specifically, it is the smallest oceanic category race with the smallest boats, measuring 6.5 metres long by 3 metres wide, without any type of comfort inside and without the possibility of using electronic cartography or external communication, beyond a daily weather report provided by radio by the organisers.

If she succeeds, Bauzá will take the baton from Balearic sailors such as Nacho Postigo, Hugo Ramón, José Linares and Felip Moll, becoming the first female born in the Balearics to complete this demanding challenge.

Bauzá has an extensive track record as a sailor of the Club de Vela del Port d’Andratx in classes such as Optimist, Laser 4.7, Laser Radial and ILCA 6. She is part of the Spanish sailing team and recently finished fourth in the Offshore World Championship alongside Guillermo Altadill.

Presentation of the Swimming Tour of Mallorca

This morning the Sailing Tour of Majorca in aid of Aspanob was presented at the Palma International Boat Show.

The Swimming Tour of Mallorca #UnRetoUnaVida, is the new challenge of the swimmer Alberto Lorente who will attempt to swim around Mallorca to benefit the parents of children with cancer in the Balearic Islands. Alongside him, a large group of volunteers, each an expert in their own discipline, will encourage the swimmer to carry out this challenge.

The Swimming Tour of Mallorca will start from the Club Náutico del Arenal, and will stop at the different ports of the island as necessary depending on the swimmer’s conditions, logistics and weather conditions.

The presentation was attended by the mayor of Llucmajor, Éric Jareño; the president of Aspanob, Jaume Coll, and the swimmer Alberto Lorente ‘El hombre de las Aguas’.