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 Mini Transat 2023: 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 fleet. 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, with no assistance and no external weather data.
A consistent 2023 season, from the Fastnet to the transatlantic
The 2023 season sums up the bulk of his classemini achievements. He secureda victory in the proto class 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 transatlantic.
ARG 1073: a Vector series boat, not a proto
The "Red Hot Mini Pepper" is a Vector 6.50 series boat designed by Eric Bertrand, launched in 2022 under the Polish flag. Norman therefore raced in the category where all boats are identical on paper — performance hinges on preparation, personal routing, and sleep management. After 2023, the boat changed skipper (Nicolo Gamenara then Lodovica Genghini).
Achievements
- Mini Transat 2023: 11th/59 in the series, aboard ARG 1073 (16th in leg 1, 14th in leg 2). First Argentinian to finish the race.
- Mini Fastnet 2023: 1st/30 in the proto class, double-handed with Carlos Manera Pascual aboard boat 1081.
- Puru Transgascogne 2023 (double-handed): 4th/14 in the series, with Miguel Angel Rondon Gonzalez aboard 1006.
- Mini en Mai 2023: 11th/73 in the series, aboard ARG 1073.
- Mini Barcelona 2022: 4th/19 in the series, aboard ARG 1073.
- Mare Nostrum 2022 (double-handed): 9th/24 in the series, with Manfredo Finck aboard ARG 1073.
