I'm 28 years old. Since I was a little kid, I've been sailing on a cruise with my parents during the holidays. Family cruises that forge memories and unite a family. Like many I took sailing lessons in the summer. But the passion never stopped growing. I became a sailing instructor and then trained as a naval architect at the renowned Southampton Solent University.
Joining a design office
At the end of my studies, I first worked for the magazine Voiles et Voiliers, then I was contacted by a naval architect to develop a cruise ship ( the Bi-Loup 109 ). I designed it and followed its construction in Caen. Once the project was completed, I moved to the Vendée to join the design office of the J-Composites yard, where I am still working today.
The attraction of ocean racing
In a corner of my head - and like many people - I've always been attracted to ocean racing. These men who set off on a circumnavigation of the world or who cross the Atlantic on incredible machines make you dream. But a Vendée Globe or an Ultim Route du Rhum are extreme races, inaccessible to the average person.
On the other hand, there is still one race, a class that allows "amateurs", "normal" people to taste the pleasures of ocean racing and get a feel for these extreme boats: The Mini Transat.
Going the extra mile
I've been looking forward to the 6.50 Mini Class for a while, following with attention the insolent performances of the Minis with round bows of David Raison (N°747 then N°865). In November 2017, at the start of the last edition, I had the chance to see the Mini Class 6.50 and to see how it performed s interview for Bateaux.com with several skippers who were setting out to conquer the Atlantic.
Among them, Stanislas Thuret told me "some people dream of it all their lives without ever taking the step". That sentence made me realise: "Damn, I'm on the wrong side of the line! If this keeps up, I'm going to fall into that category which remains a lifelong dream. Now is the time to go for it! I'm young, I have no family to support, it's time!"
That day I sat at my desk, and I put together a sponsoring file overnight (even though it evolved a lot after this first version!).
Jumping into the water
At first I hoped to find financing before buying the boat in order to limit the investment and personal risk. After a few months of searching, I had only found a few partners, but was far from having completed my budget. I realised that in order not to miss out on the trainings and qualifying races, I had to disconnect my brain. Making Mini is not rational! I bought Ofcet #880. An Ofcet because this boat is full of tricks and very well thought out details (you can feel that the architect Etienne Bertrand is experienced on this kind of boat) and in my opinion, it has an advantage in terms of performance.
Today the dream is becoming a little more real every day. I've been training and running my first races. The day when I will cross the Atlantic single-handed on an ocean racing boat is approaching. My dream is coming true..
