When designing the Pogo 2, the objective was to make an simple offshore boat, strong, that could be used for offshore racing but also for cruising.

The production Pogo 2 was achieve through the experience of different prototype mini-transats also designed by Finot / Conq Group and thanks to the building experience of Pogo Structures, French builder.

Comments from Pascal Conq, Architect at the Finot/Conq Group:
The pogo 2 is the result of our knowledge and research on mini oneoffs and open boats in general. Her qualities are : power; weight; and dynamic stability from the designer shape. In other words, we endeavored to counterbalance the negative effects of the Mini series rules. Compared to the Pogo1, the lines are straighter, fuller, wider and lower at the stern, with a lot of shape stability. The major behavioral improvements are less slamming in the waves upwind and more ability to reach planning downwind, hence keeping the bow out of the water. The internal structure is fully made of GRP composite instead of a plywood system, which give a stronger and more homogeneous boat. An important optimization work has been conducted to save weight in the scantlings while remaining as strong as needed in the right places. The cockpit is more ergonomic. The central box houses the liferaft, the companionway is well protected, the toerails are positioned for a comfortable sitting position at the helm and their shape allows to rest lying at the bottom of the cockpit. A nice detail : the autopilot is internal with a lever going through the transom The appendages produce less drag, thanks to optimized rudders and a lead bulb mounted on a cast iron fin.

With a beam close to 10 feet and a very low center of gravity (an L-shape bulb at 5'3" and an overall keel weight of 948 lbs), the Pogo 2 is very stable and accelerates very well downwind. The Pogo 2, in the breeze can keep up and sometimes pass the Proto minis who have to de-power sooner. The Pogo 2 is equipped with 2 mast head runners, a double spreader mast and three shrouds to support the column of the mast in the blow. Even with a spinnaker close to 750 square feet, the Pogo 2 is responsive but forgiving (completely self righting) in the puffs. In addition, the Pogo 2 is built with 40 cubic feet of positive flotation (required by the Mini Class Rules) and an additional 10 cubic feet of additional flotation underneath the cockpit. This flotation makes the boat completely unsinkable and therefore very safe in extreme sailing conditions.

As of today, the Pogo 2 is the lightest Production mini transat out there. The boat is about 10% lighter than other production mini transat but remains solid, stiff and powerful in the breeze. Hull, deck, interior structural components are all infused. The hull is made using a one shot infusion process that includes the longitudinal stringers. All components of the Pogo 2 are infused with polyester resin and e-glass, the sandwich for the deck uses PVC foam. The hull is reinforced with 3 stringers (molded) are also glassed around and behind the keel to add strength and support to the hull. The result is a boat that is stiff upwind through the waves and well balanced and powerful downwind. The deck is also vacuum infused with a 15mm foam sandwiched core.

There are considerable advantages to resin infusion over hand layout. The savings in materials can be as high as 30% which gives both lighter and stronger components (deck, hull, stringers) with a higher glass-to-resin ratio. The lighter the boat, the faster it is. Mini 6.50 sailors know that one knot faster on the race course makes a huge difference when racing 4,000 miles!

The boat is extremely well built. Pogo Structures sets the bar very high in terms of boat building. By choosing Open Sailing, and its new factory in Long Beach, CA, the same attention to quality is expected. Pogo Structures and Open Sailing have been working and traveling between both continents to make sure the Pogo 2 will be built to the same quality standards.

Production of the Pogo 2 has also been approved by the Mini Class Association. One of the Mini Class Measurers flew from France to inspect production, materials, and every other aspect of the project. The Pogo 2 is the first, and to this date, the only Production Mini built in the USA.

One great aspect of the Pogo 2 is that you can literally convert it into a pocket cruiser. Gas stove is included with the boat and is securely installed by the mast base. Cushions for the sleeping bunks and v-berth, wood furniture blocks for kitchen and navigation tables, outboard mount and motor are available as options which make the boat more "comfortable" for weekend cruising. Of course, you can go offshore singlehanded, but the Pogo 2 can easily take and sleep 4 people so you can enjoy sailing with your friends or family.

The cockpit is not very deep but the cabin roof provides good protection against the overspray in high speed or in heavy sea. Upwind, the boat likes to sail with a nice heeling angle. Foot rest inside the cockpit makes it easy to steer without getting exhausted.

It would not be a Finot/Conq design without the twin rudders. The Pogo 2 rudder set up is simple and efficient: 2 rudders with 2 tillers connected inside the cockpit. The connection bar runs over the emergency stern hatch and is therefore out of the way.

This arrangement was designed to make steering downwind comfortable and safe, well protected from the elements. Upwind, the skipper can lean back against the life lines and use the tiller extension to keep good control over the boat.

Because the Pogo 2 is a production boat, the mast, boom and bowsprit are all in aluminum. The mast, supplied by US Spars (a division of Z-Spars), is the same mast that is used on the French built Pogo 2. The mast is stepped on the keel and is very well supported by 2 swept back spreaders and running backstays. The swept back spreaders help prevent the mast from pumping and keep the forestay tensioned. In addition to three shrouds (upper, intermediate and lower), the Pogo 2 is also equipped with a baby-stay for additional support of the mast when reefing the sails. The mast is also ready to accept additional check stays (not supplied with the boats) for those of you who will always be sailing in 40+ knots!

The bowsprit can be launched from the cockpit and articulates to windward allowing the boat to sail deeper while racing. The articulation was very well thought out and is mounted directly on the headstay chainplate. The articulating set up is strong and the bowsprit is well supported by 2 guys on each side of the boat. The vertical loads are supported with a spectra bow line. This long bowsprit (almost 8 feet) allows sailors to fly spinnakers or gennakers depending of the point of sail and wind conditions. The Gennaker is attached to the end of the bowsprit with a snap shackle and a continuous furling drum. Because it is very well supported, the skipper can focus on gybing the sail without worrying of the bowsprit, even when short handed.

The hardware is supplied by Harken for most of it, Spinlock for the clutches (3 triple clutches and 4 single clutches) and Wichard for all the stainless shackles, anchor folding plates, and eye straps. The deck layout is very well thought out and definitely made for smooth single handed sailing. The main track has a vertical bend of 10.8m and is installed at the very aft of the boat, allowing for maximum space in the cockpit. Three Harken self-tailing winches are strategically mounted in the cockpit and on the cabin roof for all the control lines leading to the mast base. The boat is very well equipped and you will definitely enjoy spending your time on deck. The main halyard is 5/16" (8mm) and all the other halyards are 1/4" (6mm), all Dynemma core and polyester cover. The running rigging, supplied by Samson Ropes, is color co-ordinated to make maneuvering less confusing.

The Pogo 2 takes the Mini Class Box Rules to a max and carries a large sail area. The main is 279 square feet, the genoa is 193 square feet, the jib 129 square feet and the spinnaker over 750 square feet. For 2,200 lbs, the Pogo 2 has one of the highest SA/D ratio, upwind and downwind in the production class.

The Pogo 2 also adopted a square top main. However, the added power of the mainsail would be wasted without an efficient sheeting system and vang. A very long main track is a great way to keep great control over the shape of the main and plenty of support in the boom with a strong boom-vang, at any point of sail. The main is also set up with 3 reef points which allow great control over the boat in the breeze.

Sails packages vary. On the Pogo 2, you can start having fun with only 3 sails aboard (main, jib, masthead spinnaker). For those of you who would like to be competitive in any wind, many sails can be added from reefing genoa, reefing spinnakers and gennaker for light air reaching point of sail as well as gale force wind downwind. Mini Transat racers have usually 8 sails aboard, most of them for downwind purposes!

For those of you who have decided to cross the oceans with your Pogo 2, we suggest NKE and will be more than happy help you. We became a dealer in 2009 and can provide installation services, consulting and calibration. NKE is definitely one of the most common instrument packages used in the mini fleet. The NKE Gyro Autopilots are very efficient, low in power consumption and can be configured to steer the boat according in different sea conditions, different winds, and different wind directions. Customs settings are available to take advantage of this smart autopilot which can be fine tuned as to how your boat is steered.

However, if your objective is to race / sail inshore, a Tacktick package will be great on the boat, easy to install and compatible with other autopilots. It's much less expensive than NKE but still very reliable and gives sailors all the information they need to be competitive.

Pogo 2: the benchmark in the mini world. Since 2003, when the boat first came out, the Pogo 2 has taken over most of the podiums in all major events. Of course, the sailors have a lot to do with that, but as you know, racing on a mini 6.50 is about the skipper and his boat.

Here are some results:

• 2003 - 1st place Mini TransAt 6.50
• 2005 - 1st place Mini TransAt 6.50
• 2006 - 1st place TransAt, ahead of the Protos!! Les Sables - Les Acores - Les Sables. 8 top finishers are Pogo 2!
• 2006 - Pogo 2 - 24h absolute record: 259.4 miles in 24h at an average speed of 10.8 knots
• 2007 - 1st, 2nd, 3rd - 11 Top Finishers are Pogo 2!
• 2009 - 1st Pogo 2 in Production class (8 top finishers are Pogo 2) and 1st place in Proto class with a Finot/Conq design.

Of course, the mini circuit in Europe offers plenty races and the Pogo 2 is always in the top of the results.

Finot/Conq and Pogo Structures thought about designing and building a Pogo 3...but as they say, ?we did not know what could be change to improve the boat?. Yes, it is very pretentious (or French) but they have some good arguments ! :)