Discovering the open sea with Armel Tripon
After completing a BTS in shipbuilding, Matéo Lavauzelle became a racing boat preparer. After contacting several teams, he joined Armel Tripon to work on the Multi50 Réauté Chocolat. He has many opportunities to sail, and enjoys them. In 2014, he took part in the return delivery of the boat, and that's when it all clicked, as he tells us: "I used to race by the day, on Moth Foilers. I figured it was cool to go offshore!"
He continues to follow Armel Tripon on his IMOCA l'Occitane en Provence project. And once again, the magic happens. Matéo explains: "A little before the Vendée Globe, we were aboard L'Occitane en Provence testing pilot configurations. The boat was flying off Belle-Île and I thought, I want to do that!"
Design and build your own flying boat
He then decided to build his own flying Mini 6.50. Although the project took shape in his head in 2020, it took a long time to come to fruition. While he continued to work with Armel Tripon, he also designed the flying boat of his dreams using 3D software.
To find a sponsor, he thought that posting his future boat on the networks might help. But it was a cold shower. However, he attracts the attention of a Moth competitor, who is also interested in designing a Mini 6.50, and offers to help him make some improvements to his design. Matéo began working with MMProcess in Quiberon to design the final boat.
Although the design has finally been found, a sponsor is still needed to launch construction. Matéo explains: "It took a long time because I didn't know how. I tended to get carried away. I had very few answers. In fact, I didn't know how to sell my project. So I told myself I was going to make personalized videos, a bit unique, like Clarisse did when she started out. I did the same thing, but with a lot of nerve, and it turned out to work."
A first part of the budget found to launch construction
So, now backed by Breton potato chip brand Brets, which gives him ? of the budget, enthused by his project, he gets ? more from his bank. He then embarked on the construction of his boat, building his foiler every day, with which he hopes to score a podium finish in the Mini Transat 2025. After 14 months of work, the boat will be launched at La-Trinité-sur-Mer on Sunday June 23, 2024. During this year of construction, carried out between Carnac and La Trinité, between loaned and rented warehouses, Matéo discovered the famous mutual aid that characterizes the Classe Mini.
Today, the 27-year-old is looking for funds to continue building his boat, which currently has neither electronics nor foils.
An innovative Mini 6.50 proto
He presents this unique model, which features several innovations. "The hull is unique, we designed the mold for this boat. This will be the first proto of its kind, although we'll be able to resell the mould. The idea is to make a scow that has a bit of rocker to bounce well in the waves and that isn't too flat, to be versatile. It will have very large foils, rather like the Mini 6.50 Nicomatic. The rudder will be gigantic, in the style of Charal, but with load-bearing planes. The innovation is a step backwards. We chose a fixed keel. All the protos have canting keels, but as our foils have a very complex system, we had to lighten the boat. The advantage of a canting keel is reduced in our case. The result is enormous habitability, with a very long companionway. The mast is fixed, with a single-stage spreader. The idea is to make a simple, versatile boat."
Looking for a second partner to finalize its project
When his boat is launched, Matéo will be able to analyze all the details, the reinforcement and lightening needs. He hopes to quickly find another partner to accompany him in the construction of his foils and really start the adventure that will take him to the Mini Transat 2025. Even if he could replace these large appendages with daggerboards, it would be contrary to the dream he's trying to realize.
