First Argentinian to complete the Mini Transat
Federico Norman is from Rosario, Santa Fe. In 2023, he became the first compatriot to finish the Mini Transat, placing11th/59 in the series aboardARG 1073 "Red Hot Mini Pepper", a Vector 6.50 series boat designed by Eric Bertrand, launched in 2022 under the Polish flag.
The 2023 Mini Transat: fifteen days in a water desert
Norman completed the crossing in two legs (16th in the first, 14th in the second) to finish 11th overall in the series. He is the first Argentinian skipper to cross the finish line in this event. He describes it as a "fifteen-day crossing in a water desert" — a Mini 6.50 format where sleep comes in 20-minute chunks, without assistance or external weather data.
A consistent 2023 season, from the Fastnet to the transat
The 2023 season encapsulates the core of his classemini achievements. He secureda proto class victory at the Mini Fastnet in double-handed racing with Carlos Manera Pascual (on boat 1081, not his own), a 4th place in the Puru Transgascogne double-handed series with Miguel Angel Rondon Gonzalez (on boat 1006), and an 11th place in the series at Mini en Mai. A full Atlantic season that served as a launchpad for the transat.
ARG 1073: a series Vector, not a proto
The "Red Hot Mini Pepper" is an Eric Bertrand-designed Vector 6.50 series boat, launched in 2022 under the Polish flag. Norman therefore competed in the category where all boats are identical on paper — performance hinges on preparation, personal routing, and sleep management. After 2023, the boat changed skippers (Nicolo Gamenara then Lodovica Genghini).
Achievements
- 2023 Mini Transat: 11th/59 in the series, aboard ARG 1073 (16th leg 1, 14th leg 2). First Argentinian to finish the race.
- 2023 Mini Fastnet: 1st/30 in proto class, double-handed with Carlos Manera Pascual aboard boat 1081.
- 2023 Puru Transgascogne (double-handed): 4th/14 in the series, with Miguel Angel Rondon Gonzalez aboard 1006.
- 2023 Mini en Mai: 11th/73 in the series, aboard ARG 1073.
- 2022 Mini Barcelona: 4th/19 in the series, aboard ARG 1073.
- 2022 Mare Nostrum (double-handed): 9th/24 in the series, with Manfredo Finck aboard ARG 1073.
