72 solo sailors set off on 19 July on the first leg of the Les Sables-Les Açores-Les Sables race between Vendée and Horta. Even though the number of qualifying miles for the Mini Transat has been halved, the race continues to fill up. Let’s take a closer look at this change and the line-up.
“With 72 skippers taking part – 47 in the series and 25 in the proto category – and around fifteen on the waiting list, there is still a lot of interest in Les Sables-Les Açores-Les Sables (SAS), which is very popular, particularly for its stopover in Horta,” points out Joël Zanoni, president of the Les Sables d’Olonne Vendée Course au Large association, which organises this biennial event. Denis Hugues, race director since the race was launched in 2006, points out that “there have been editions, in 2012 and 2014 in particular, with fewer than 40 boats. The fact that the race is full to capacity today is proof of the dynamism of the class.”
The major change for this 10th edition is that the number of qualifying miles for the La Boulangère Mini Transat has been halved (from 2,600 to 1,300): “We wanted to rebalance the chances of taking part in the Mini Transat, as we realised that the SAS was mainly contested by racers with time and budget,” explains Romain Bigot, president of the Mini class. For Emmanuel Versace, organiser of the Mini Transat, “it’s very good news for the championship to be more varied in terms of profiles and in particular to give Mediterranean skippers more chances to qualify”.
The class president also highlights the desire to “promote this event as a race in its own right, especially as it is circular, which we feel is very important from an environmental point of view”. And Denis Hugues adds that even though “it’s not necessarily a prerequisite for qualifying, it still gives you a lot of experience, both in terms of the route and the weather.”
As for the budget for taking part, Groupe Satov skipper Amaury Guérin estimates it at around €5,500, including €1,600 in entry fees, which “covers a large part of the event’s budget, which is at least €150,000,” points out Joël Zanoni. The rest comes from the local authorities.
“In proto, it’s going to be
a very hard and fast fight”
What about the forces at work? In the proto class, the field includes many of the skippers who raced in the last Mini Transat, and “it’s going to be a very hard and fast fight”, according to Denis Hugues. “There are around ten skippers who could be on the podium,” adds Romain Bigot. Among them, Carlos Manera Pascual, who finished 2nd in the Mini Transat 2023 on Xucla, a Manuard design equipped with foils, and “is getting a bit stronger with his recent experience in Class40 [Niji 40 with Xavier Macaire, editor’s note], so he’s quite a competitor”, emphasises Emmanuel Versace.Also eagerly awaited is Caroline Boule, on the second foiler in the fleet (Nicomatic), who “is starting to really master her boat,” explains the Mini Transat organiser. “I think the last few double-handed races with Benoît Marie [they won the Plastimo Lorient Mini] have helped her a lot.” Marie Gendron (Léa Nature), winner this season of the Mini in May and 2nd in the Trophée Marie-Agnès Péron, meanwhile, is back for a third appearance (7th in proto in 2022 and 11th in 2018). “With her 4th place in the Mini Transat 2023, she’s clear about her ability to win and on the water, I think she’s a real warrior,“ says Emmanuel Versace.
The skipper, who is also preparing a project in Class40, points out that “this is one of the rare editions with a proto line-up where the level is so tight, with some ultra-high-performance machines. I’m mainly going to be chasing Romain Van Enis (Be Sailing) as I’m second by ten points in the French championship rankings. I’ll also have to watch out for Alexandre Demange (DMG Mori Sailing Academy 2) who’s right behind me.” The former has finished on the podium in all four races he has raced this season (winner of the Trophée Marie-Agnès Péron), while the latter, who took over from Laure Galley on one of the Japanese team’s two protos, has notched up four podium finishes (victory in the Mini Fastnet with Benoît Mariette) and a 5th place.
Also mentioned as favourites by our interviewees are Julien Letissier (Frérots Branchet), 3rd in La Boulangère Mini Transat 2023, and Félix Oberle on Big Bounce, the Raison design which has won the last two Mini Transat races, which “also knows the SAS route well as the boat won with Pierre Le Roy [Félix Oberle finished 5th]. This year, I’m going back there to gain experience, as it’s the best preparation for the Mini Transat.”
Amaury Guérin
Series favourite
In the series, where the renewal of the fleet is more important, our experts inevitably mention Amaury Guérin, winner this year of the Pornichet Select, the Mini en Mai and the Trophée Marie-Agnès Péron. “He’s a solid sailor with a good maritime background, including a solo expedition to the far north,” says Romain Bigot. For his part, Emmanuel Versace praises his “storming start to the season. He had a big blow to morale last year after an accident on the Mini in May, which he had to abandon, but now he’s back strong, serene and with some fine objectives.” What does Guérin himself think of being favourite? “In the races I won, it wasn’t a clear dominance at all, the match was really close, so it’s not going to be easy.” Among his main rivals, our interviewees cite Paul Cousin (AFP Groupe Biocombustibles), winner of the Plastimo Lorient Mini with Camille Croguennec, and Quentin Mocudet (Ascodal – Saverus & Délices), who won the Mini Fastnet with Margaux Chanceaulme and has always featured in the top 5 at the start of the season.
Denis Hugues warns: “As the SAS format is very different from the pre-season races, it may not be the same people at the front. We’re really going to have to get to grips with the weather phenomena, sleep, food, possible breakdowns and repairs. And the finish in the Azores can be really tricky if the high is there, so a lot can happen.”
