Mallorcan sailor Hugo Ramon crossed the finish line of Mini Transat 2025 this Monday afternoon at 18:57 UTC, becoming the first Spaniard to complete this legendary ocean solo regatta with just six yachts four times. … The length is 5 meters. Aboard the Cristalmina Majolica, flying the flag of Real Club Nautico de Palma (RCNP), Ramon took 16 days, 3 hours and 57 minutes to cover the 3,118 miles separating Santa Cruz de la Palma (Canary Islands) from Guadalupe at an average speed of 8 knots.
The Mallorcan, who had already competed in the 2005, 2007 and 2009 competitions, had thus cemented his name in the history of Spanish ocean sailing and was waiting for his compatriot Miguel Rondon to cross the finish line and reach the same spot aboard Cristina. The other two Spaniards competing, Ramon Rivera (Same’s) and João Trenchis (Pachamama), are scheduled to arrive in the Caribbean port of Saint Francois between today and tomorrow.
La Boulàngere Mini Transat 2025 was held in an exceptional format. The first stage between Les Sables d’Olonne (France) and the island of La Palma was canceled due to the passage of Hurricane Gabriel, forcing the fleet to evacuate to the Portuguese coast. Therefore, the final classification is based solely on transatlantic crossings.
In a fleet of 57 production boats, Ramon finished 18th after a voyage full of tactical contrasts. For the first few days, he stuck to a more northerly route and was able to take advantage of more consistent winds to lead the overall class standings for more than 24 hours. However, the drop in pressure in the area caused them to lose position compared to a group that was sailing further south in better conditions.
Nevertheless, the Balearic sailor maintained a competitive and constant pace, once again showing his experience and resistance. “I am happy to have completed my fourth adventure and am satisfied with the performance of the boat,” declared Ramon with a smile, despite feeling exhausted as soon as he reached land.
At 40 years old, Hugo Ramon has returned to Mini Transat after a long absence from ocean sailing. His last big adventure was a two-handed trip around the world in 2012. Its clear aim was to reconnect with the sea and revive the pure essence of sailing.
“Mini Transat is a comprehensive maritime experience,” he explained. “It’s not just about loneliness, it’s also about how to get around with little internet, no land communication, and little weather information. “Like the navigators of old, you have to observe, think, and plot your course on a paper chart.”
The winner in the production boat category was Frenchman Paul Cousin (biofuel) with a time of 14 days, 23 hours and 19 minutes, confirming France’s superiority in this field. In fact, the first eight places were French sailors.
In the prototype category, Switzerland’s Matisse Bourgnon (Asomast) won, achieving the best time among the entire fleet with a time of 13 days, 17 hours and 24 minutes.