Mini Transat: The Boating Bodyguard

(October 1, 2015; Stage 1, Day 13) – The Mini Transat îles de Guadeloupe competitors that have yet to finish in Lanzarote are approaching the deadline. The finish line closes for the prototypes tomorrow at 10:34 (local time), while the finish line closes for the Series class on Saturday at 06:01 (local time). But however long the race, the support boats are with them right to the end.

It is they who are the safeguards of the fleet, who listen and speak for the race management. It is they who have to find the right words to raise the morale of a sailor who is down, all at the same time as not providing assistance, who some times have to turn back against the tide of the race to help a sailor in need. It is a job that is not always fun to do and of which little is known about; and without which the Mini Transat îles de Guadeloupe could not exist.

When Jean-Luc Garnier brought the Mini Transat to France in 1985, the maritime authorities where not all that keen on letting such small boats head off on such a big ocean and they imposed an unspoken rule: the fleet would need to be followed by support boats who would watch over the safety of the competitors and act as a relay to pass information from the sea to shore.

Ever since then, the tradition continues and is now a firm part of the Mini Transat îles de Guadeloupe mode of function and continues to remain a key part of the Mini Class’ true identity: under no circumstances should the sailors have any form of direct contact with the shore. The Mini Transat îles de Guadeloupe is not just a race, it is also a solitary journey on which one faces oneself and is a way of getting to know oneself.

Return of the old hands
It therefore comes as little surprise that a lot of support crew on the Mini Transat îles de Guadeloupe are people who have previously competed on the race. Christian Bourolec, who runs the Structures yard and won the 1999 race in the Series Class, Richard Méeigeaux came 2nd in the 2003 race and Pierre Denjeat and Ronan Jehanno too are regulars on the Mini Circuit.

These sailors are, for the most part, volunteers giving their free time to be part of the adventure and to provide a helping hand. There are a number of sailors from Douarnenez, Michel Jacques and Jacques Garnier among them, quiet and on the sidelines, but always there when you need them. It also gives the organisers peace of mind to know that he can rely on people who know the race.

The Marine nationale, a key supporter
The Mini Transat îles de Guadeloupe race had the added support of the PSP Flamant (French naval patrol ship) for the first stage of the race from Douarnenez to Lanzarote. It was the opportunity for the crew of the ship to see a completely different world.

It was evident during the BBQ hosted by the ship’s crew that the sailors and seaman and women are linked, men and women of the sea and who are all part of the same family. Some found out that young men and women can be driven enough to want to cross the Atlantic on a tiny hulls whilst others get news of the world out there; rugby world cup match results, the latest news basically.

Richard Mérigeaux, K8 support boat skipper:

Supporting the Mini Transat:
“I was offered the job to accompany the Mini Transat between two jobs with Sea Sheperd: “It is not something you say no to! When I am not at sea, I always go to see the start and to be doing it too on a boat of such special historical importance is amazing…”

It makes you want to do it again:
“Whether the new or the old Mini’s… they make you want to wish… I know of no offshore boat, and I have tried a few, that are as fun and as safe as a Mini. I have actually surfed a wave, caught up with the one before and then surfed that one! The pleasure you get from helming a Mini is unique. So it really makes me want to do the Min Transat again!”

The spirit remains the same:
“The years go by, the sailors change, but the spirit remains. The solidarity among the sailors is just as strong as ever and they always have the shared sense of a party and adventure. I was surprised again to see at sea the support that there is during the race; they tell each other everything! It is pretty incredible, they all talk about their tweaks and which sails they have up and give each other advise, talk about the weather forecasts and read out passage of the Bernot book. There is a really lovely side to the competition and I find it fascinating.”

I was not saying anything:
“You go up to take a photo and it is the boat you approach who ends up filming you! That is the communications generation… The pleasure of being alone at sea is obviously not that that they are looking for. When I was racing we did not speak all day or night unless you were really down. I personally never said anything. I would wait for someone to break down and let out information.”

A varied fleet:
“The new boats are interesting for sure; you can really see them evolve. I do feel however that the fleet is more varied than it has ever been.”

Race website – Race program – Tracker

Report by race media.

Background: For the 20th edition and for the second time, the Mini Transat – Îles de Guadeloupe returns to its origins with a start from Douarnenez (France). The Breton harbour will see the fleet of 72 solo sailors set off on September 19 to Lanzarote (Canary Islands), where the Mini 6.50 will complete stage one of the race. The second stage will start on October 31, taking the fleet across the Atlantic to finish some three weeks later in Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe). The 2,700 nautical mile race from France to the Caribbean is the longest solo race for the smallest of boats.