The course of the Mini Transat – now known as the Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia – has been modified and will now take the fleet via Madeira.

Thirty years after the race was created, the 16th edition of the race will take the fleet from Fort Boyard in La Rochelle, France via Funchall on the Portuguese island of Madeira instead of the previous route to Lanzarote.

The fleet will leave from Fort Boyard (Charente-Maritime) in La Rochelle on 16 September 2007 and complete the 1,100-mile sprint to Funchall before setting off on the 3,100-mile second leg across the Atlantic to Salvador de Bahia.

According to Grand Pavois, the organisers, the event is already over subscribed with 120 entries filed from 20 different countries including 12 women. However, with only 75 entry places available competitors will have endure an obligatory qualification process qualifying on a first-come-first served basis to ensure their place on the start line in September.