After successfully completing the 2023 Mini Transat, Peter Gibbons-Neff is returning with a newly designed and built boat with the goal of winning this race in 2027.  Designed by Sam Manuard, this boat will be built in La Trinité-sur-Mer, France this winter and will have two full seasons of racing before setting across the ocean.  This new Classe Mini 6.50 will be made of carbon fiber with a canting keel and foils to fly out of the water and reach speeds of over 30 kts.

The Mini Transat is a 4,050 nautical mile solo race across the Atlantic Ocean on 21' high performance sailboats designed for fast downwind sailing along the southern trade wind route.  It is a two stage race departing from France, a stop over in the Canary Islands, and finish in Guadeloupe.  With 90 skippers competing, this race takes place every other year and requires two years of intense training and qualification to cross the starting line.

As he transitioned away from 10 years of active duty service, Peter started his first Mini Transat campaign to raise awareness for U.S. Patriot Sailing.  U.S. Patriot Sailing helped Peter after his return home from  deployment and now he continues back as a team ambassador racing on the ocean and as a volunteer skipper in Annapolis.  After sailing Terminal Leave over 15,000 nm in three years, Peter is ready to take on this new mission and expand support for U.S. Patriot Sailing.

Peter grew up in the Philadelphia area, sailing dinghies there and in the Annapolis waters from an early age, raced offshore as far as Bermuda, competed at the highest offshore collegiate levels as a skipper for the U.S. Naval Academy’s Varsity Offshore Sailing Team, and currently serves as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.  

Check out the 2023 Mini Transat finish line blog post here.  

Proud Member of:   Cruising Club of America, Storm Trysail Club, and The Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia

Contact: peter@pgnoceanracing.com