Petit Bateau on board: a commitment consistent with the maritime world
The partnership between the French textile brand and the two engineer-navigators is part of a shared desire to highlight technicality, rigor and durability. Founded in Troyes in 1893, Petit Bateau will now accompany this sporting, human and technological project on a Mini launched in 2022.
Designed and built by Caroline Boule and Benoît Marie, this foiler is distinguished by an architecture optimized for flight, integrating foils and structural choices derived from cutting-edge engineering. The support of a textile company steeped in maritime history adds a strong symbolic dimension to this collaboration.
A winter project combining routine maintenance and targeted optimization
The Mini underwent the usual winter maintenanceâeuros¯: checking the appendages, the helm system and foil-structure links, and a complete overhaul of the onboard electronics.
But this winter was also an opportunity to rethink the boat's wardrobe. The previous sails, considered too modest in calm conditions, have been replaced by slightly larger ones, offering better performance in light airs. Attention was also paid to the aesthetics of the boat, whose decoration was redesigned to reflect both the sobriety and elegance characteristic of the Petit Bateau brand.
Intense training followed, as Benoît confirms: "We've been flying for two months now, alternating solo sessions with fleet navigation. But unlike an airplane pilot who is provided with a manual, on our Mini it's up to us to write it. With Caroline, we've made a lot of progress, managing to use the power of our Mini by regulating the sails, but also the load-bearing planes."
Petit Bateau, a name familiar to sailors
The nod to childhood is real. Many sailors grew up wearing Petit Bateau sailboats or underwear. For many, choosing this brand as a partner is a return to their roots.
Through this support, Petit Bateau is taking a step towards the sea in the strictest sense of the word, by associating itself with an ocean racing project that is committed, technical, but also rooted in a poetic and sensory dimension. The ambition is also to reinforce the brand's lasting image through concrete maritime visibility.
