Mixed crew on the Plastimo Lorient Mini
The notice of race of the Plastimo Lorient Mini 2023 contains an important novelty for the Mini 6.50 circuit. The event, which opens the calendar of the class, will be raced in 2023 with a mixed crew. The boats will combine male and female sailors on this now classic event of the Atlantic circuit.
If the obligation is debated, it seemed to be the best solution for the organizers to promote this mix, as explained by the skipper Laure Galley of DMG Mori. "I hope it won't be necessary in the future, but it's a bit of an obligation to give opportunities to women. We are 4 women in proto with great projects and new boats, we are not so far from parity on this type of project. This shows that we are just as capable of convincing sponsors and launching ourselves, with good results at the end. The PLM is certainly the most suitable race for this kind of test, it's a double-handed race, quite short and therefore accessible."
Participate in the feminization of competitive sailing
While different classes had implemented rules of mixity in their crews, like the double-handed Paprec Transat in Figaro 3, The Ocean race in IMOCA, the Mini class had nothing comparable. The Mini 6.50 being one of the main gateways to professional sailing, it could not ignore the issue. Jean Marre, president of the class, summarizes the situation. "It is important that the Classe Mini plays its role as a facilitator and allows more women to access our discipline. If the Olympics and the top level do it, the pool of new talents that we represent must also play the game. Because if the "base" does not bring enough women sailors on the circuit, the elite will eventually find themselves blocked in their approach. We have a real role to play".
