Franck Lauvray alias Francky calls all his boats “Alice”. Why? Because it slips along obviously! His Mini project dates from when he was 20. He even designed the boat of his dreams ten years ago. But to achieve his desire for a transatlantic crossing before hitting 50, he acquired the 346. It’s the oldest boat of the fleet which will head off tomorrow morning. But it’s the boat which sticks the closest to his image, with an wing mast and a heap of innovations since 2001 plus the 4 transatlantic crossings that the boat has completed.
A strict amateur, originally from Orvault in Loire-Atlantique, Francky has been sailing at a high level since he was 18. Notably in the Admirals Cup in 1999 “I’m the Pierre Coubertin of the Mini’s! I’m philosophical about things”. With his sheer desire to sail and achieve his 30 year old dream, Franck represents the true spirit of the Mini’s.
The safety and weather briefing take place on Wednesday 2 june at 18:00 with Denis Hugues, race Director, Jean-Jacques Quéré, weather forcaster and Frédéric Guérin, President of the Race Comittee.
It will take place as a video-conference and you must connect at 17:45 using the following link : Briefing via Teams
You’re not obliged to install the Teams application, you can connect using an up to date internet browser.
To connect to Wifi : Winchesclub-Guest / password : Map&FastNet21
The briefing will be recorded and put online afterwards.
Offshore racing has by now well and truly re-started , since last weekend up till the end of this week three races have taken place and it’s interesting to see that a fair few competitors have been in the Mini Class. So we had the Transat in pairs 7 « born in Mini » and noticed a great second place for Tanguy Le Turquais. At the moment the Normandy Channel Race pack which includes 15 former Mini skippers has reached the south of Ireland led by Ian Lipinski and Gwenolé Gahinet. And Ocean Race Europe left on Saturday with 9 former Mini skippers. Taking part in the Mini’s is one of best ‘passports’ to offshore racing !
But let’s come back to Douarnenez, at 2 days from departure the number of those registered has fallen to 73 for varied, different reasons and the waiting list has been exhausted. Competing we find 10 nationalities, 10 women and 63 men. Amongst them, in the series, we find Léo Debiesse on the 966 once more – the Alphas, Basile Bourgnon on the 975 -Edenred, Jean-Marie Jézéquel on the 951 – Branchet/KPL, Hugo Picard the last winner of the Trophy on the 1014 – SVBTeam and of course Hugo Dhallenne, on the 979 – St Lunaire Yacht Club who has won the three Atlantic races this year. On the Mediterranean side, one to watch is Alberto Riva on the 993.
Looking at the prototypes, Sébastien Pebelier on the podium last Mini en Mei and Select, will once again skipper 787-DECOSAIL and Irina Gracheva will be on the 800, very motivated after long repairs on its keel. We’ll also see Victor Turpin on the 850-Pays d’Iroise. The big favourite of the prototypes is Pierre Le Roy on the 1019- BIG BOUNCE which won the Plastimo Lorient this year.
