A Polish-built Vector 6.50 sailed by four different skippers
Launched in 2022 under Polish flag, ARG 1073 « Red Hot Mini Pepper » is a Vector 6.50 series sailboat designed by Eric Bertrand and built by Yacht Service in Poland. Four skippers took turns at the helm between 2022 and 2026, including a Mini Transat finish by the first Argentinian skipper to complete the race and a 2024 Mediterranean season marked by multiple victories.
The Vector 6.50, a scow-class sailboat by Eric Bertrand
The Vector 6.50 is a Mini class scow sailboat (wide bow, flat bottom) produced by Yacht Service since 2018. Design specifications:
- LOA 6.50 m / beam 3.00 m / draft 1.60 m
- Displacement 975 kg, bulb 439 kg
- Mainsail 25 m², genoa 18 m², spinnaker 75 m²
- Category B
2022–2023: Federico Norman, first Argentinian to finish the Mini Transat
Federico Norman (Rosario, Argentina) sailed the boat for two seasons. The 2022 season served as shakedown with a 4th/19 finish at the Mini Barcelona. In 2023, the boat went on to compete in the Pornichet Select (19th/58), Mini en Mai (11th/73), then the 2023 Mini Transat: 11th/59 in class (16th leg 1, 14th leg 2). Norman became the first Argentinian skipper to complete the race.
2024–2025: Nicolo Gamenara, full Mediterranean season
The boat was taken over by Italian Nicolo Gamenara for the next two seasons. 2024 was a busy year in the Mediterranean:
- Solo Med 2024 (solo, 700 NM): 1st/21 in class
- Mare Nostrum 2024 (double-handed with Giacomo Nicchitta): 1st/19 in class
- Palma-Melilla-Palma 2024 (double-handed, 1000 NM, with Nicchitta): 1st/29 in class, 2nd overall behind the French prototype Optimum
- Roma-Barcelona Solo 2024: 2nd/10
In 2025, Gamenara entered the boat in the 2025 Mini Transat: 16th/57 in class, after a 2nd/28 at the Puru Transgascogne and a 6th/64 at Mini en Mai.
2026: Lodovica Genghini and Simone Parisio
The boat was taken over by a crew of Lodovica Genghini and Simone Parisio in 2026 (5th/5 at Palma Vela - La Larga, April 2026).
