If the idea of competing in the Mini Transat appeals to but you’re unsure about how to go about it, fear not because Rogers Yacht Design and Ovington Marine have come up with a solution which should make decision making for the 2005 race a lot easier. The Rogers 650 kit boat package, which starts at £18,000 plus VAT, stems from the success of a previous Rogers Mini Transat design in which British sailor Brian Thompson finished a creditable fifth overall in 2001.

The idea of the Rogers kit is for Ovington Marine to build the hull with bulkheads bonded in, and the deck fitted but unbonded which gives the owner a chance, if they wish, to fit out the interior themselves and decide what kind of keel system they want to use. Once the hull and deck are complete, the stage of finish is flexible leaving the owner to decide how much or little they want to get involved with the finish and how much money they want to spend.

Despite running an extremely busy yard in Newcastle finishing off a string of International 14s and Mumm 30s Dave Ovington took time out to chat about his up and coming Mini Transat project: “I’m actually really looking forward starting building them although I can’t quite see when I’m going to fit it in. My plan is however, to start on the first one in June. As much as I’d like to do a lot of the finishing off, detailed work, this will be farmed out to other builders leaving us to concentrate on building the carbon/epoxy hulls.”

The other advantage of signing up for a Rogers’ kit boat is the company’s involvement with Brian Thompson who’ll be acting as a consultant advising on, as well as other things, rigging, deck layout, rudders and keel choice. Thompson commented on the project: “Following my successes in the last Mini circuit there is no doubt in my mind that the Rogers design has exactly what you need to be at the front of the fleet and in with a good chance of a podium position.”

For further details, contact Dave Ovington at Ovington Marine on Telephone: 44 (0) 191 258 0736 or e-mail dave@ovingtonmarine.co.uk