Restoring meaning to life
In partnership with the association "Zone bleue", the schooner Patriac'h helps young teenagers in need of guidance to integrate into society. Often plagued by family problems or delinquency, the school of the sea allows them to build a future for themselves.
Based in the Var, this solid sailing boat, co-skippered by Grégoire Ducaroy and Pascal Quentel, is an integral part of a programme spread over a whole year.
" The young people alternate between sailing and periods ashore, in order to help them find both a life project (via a professional orientation or an apprenticeship) as well as the basics of life in society," explains Grégoire. "Life on board is a microcosm of society and we help them to reintegrate it. "Embarking on a sailboat is also an opportunity to make a real break with their environment and their relationships.
On board, everyone participates in the navigation and daily tasks. Quarters, manoeuvring, cooking, cleaning, everything is involved. But also routine maintenance, which is necessary on a 24-metre unit on a daily basis. This daily maintenance allows trainees to be introduced to the various trades present on a boat (electricity, mechanics, painting, varnishing, rigging, seamanship...), and perhaps to create vocations.
" We welcome young people between 14 and 18 years of age." continues Gregory, " Two groups of 6 trainees embark in alternation, supervised by two educators and two sailors. "
Sailing, but also social and environmental projects
The schooner is based in the Mediterranean in the summer and in the West Indies in the winter. The transatlantic crossing on such a yacht is an incredible experience for young people in rehabilitation.
But Patriac'h's program isn't all about navigation. The schooner takes part in many social and environmental projects:
- beach clean-up operations in Tunisia, Greece and the West Indies
- cetacean counting and sightings in the West Indies
- west Mediterranean tower for the protection of small Mediterranean islands
- defence of turtles in Greece and Tunisia.
After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Patriac'h brought relief supplies to the devastated islands of Sint Maarten and Dominica.
Environmental awareness for these young people must be applied on a daily basis, in order to prepare them to meet the various challenges their generation will have to face.
An atypical sailboat
The Patriac'h is a solid unit perfectly suited to this activity. Solid and spacious, she is capable of transporting her crew in complete safety. Built by 4 amateurs (professional welders anyway) on Renault Island (Paris) in 1975, with the aim of taking part in the Clippers race, a crewed round-the-world race.
Patriac'h was notably used as a radio boat on the 1st Route du Rhum in 1978. At that time, long-range means of communication didn't exist, and relays at sea were needed to transmit competitors' communications. It was on this race that Patriac'h picked up Alain Colas' last message, before he disappeared with his trimaran Manureva. The antenna which picked up this last communication is still on board...
