Institut Robert-Debré du Cerveau de l'Enfant at the Mini-Transat

Arthur Peugeot

Arthur Peugeot, 30, is a committed, determined single-handed ocean racing skipper... and a tenacious dreamer. His goal: to take part in the legendary Mini Transat, a solo Atlantic crossing with no assistance, no means of communication and no digital cartography.

For the past two years, Arthur has been learning to master his boat, taking part in his first races and validating all the qualifying stages. In 2023, he finished 9ᵉ on the waiting list for the Mini transat, ahead of sailors who had simply launched their project earlier. But there's no question of giving up: Arthur is now taking on an extraordinary challenge, driven by courage, perseverance and the desire to surpass himself.

These values resonate deeply with those of the Institut Robert-Debré du Cerveau de l’Enfant : exploring new horizons, pushing back the limits and taking on the most ambitious challenges in the service of knowledge and children's health. That's why we're proud to support him in this exceptional human and sporting adventure.

In July 2024, Arthur set off on his biggest single-handed race to date, "Les Sables - Les Açores - Les Sables": a race in 2 legs, 2 times 10 days at sea, 90 overexcited competitors, no phone or internet, no communication with land, no assistance, and a tiny overpowered sailboat.

But also, and above all: a small onboard camera, and a lot of emotions to deal with alone in the middle of the elements, which we tried to represent realistically through this unfiltered film. A magical adventure on the way to the Mini Transat 2025.

Photo credit: (c) Vincent Olivaud / La Boulangère Mini Transat

What is the Mini-Transat?

Photo credit: (c) Orana Larthomas / MaïMoanaFilms

The Mini Transat (or Mini Transat 6.50) is a mythical and rather extreme transatlantic race:

Format: skippers cross the Atlantic alone, without assistance and without any modern means of communication (no satellite phone, no Internet, no live weather).

Boats: ocean-racing sailboats only 6.50 meters long (hence the name "Mini"), barely larger than a car.
Course: around 4,000 nautical miles (almost 7,500 km), in two legs, generally from mainland France to the West Indies.

Esprit: it's an event where everything depends on preparation, endurance and the sailor's instinct, a bit like the "Everest" of solo sailing... but on a tiny boat.

Special feature: it's often a springboard for some of the biggest names in sailing (Michel Desjoyeaux, François Gabart, Clarisse Crémer, etc.).

In a nutshell: it's a race where you set off alone, on a tiny boat, to cross the Atlantic, without any assistance... and where the human element counts for more than the technology.

Main stages: Les Sables-d'Olonne → Canaries → Guadeloupe

A crossing in two acts

From Sables d'Olonne to Saint-François in Guadeloupe, skippers face a challenging course of over 4,000 nautical miles (almost 7,500 km).

The first leg (1,350 miles, approx. 2,500 km) leads to La Palma, via the Bay of Biscay and the Iberian coast: technical, tactical and demanding sailing.
The second (2,700 miles, around 5,000 km) plunges into the immensity of the Atlantic: the search for trade winds, the management of tropical squalls and crucial strategic choices punctuate two weeks of ocean adventure.

On arrival in Guadeloupe, after this epic journey between Europe, the Atlantic and the Caribbean, the emotion was equal to the challenge: a true odyssey of sailing and endurance!

The Mini Transat can be followed via several channels: YouTube for live streaming, Instagram and LinkedIn for daily news, and the official website. Live mapping with competitor positions will be available during the race. Live broadcasts with analysis and interviews will be broadcast regularly during the race.

Click to enlarge

The pedagogical project

As part of its participation in the 25ᵉ edition of this legendary race, the Institut Robert-Debré du Cerveau de l’Enfant is offering an educational and fun course, created in partnership with the Centre médico-psychologique des Tourelles (Paris, 20th arrondissement).

Specially designed educational sheets enable children, including those with autism, to follow the race, discover the marine world and learn about mental health.

This approach aims to combine fun learning with awareness-raising, offering an educational, interactive experience tailored to the needs of each child.

Are you a parent or teacher who wants your children to follow the race? You'll find all the information you need in the Educational Kit available for download.