The Mini Fastnet 2014: sharing the legend

by Catherine Ecarlat 19 Jun 2014 11:02 BST 21-28 June 2014

28th Mini Fastnet start from Douarnenez © Catherine Ecarlat

This Mini Fastnet 2014 will see 37 pairs at the starting line: 74 sailors from very diverse backgrounds including, as always, some 'old hands' who return for the fun of sharing and to pass on their experience to the newcomers in this race of which they never tire. And the newcomers are ready for their great leap of initiation. In Prototypes and Production boats alike, there will be a lot of big names again this year: plenty of 'rookies' plus some 'oldies but goldies' livening up the 29th edition of this legendary circuit of 600 nautical miles between Douarnenez and the Fastnet Rock.

Sharing experience as much as possible

In the Prototypes, a surprising pair was announced yesterday: Davy Beaudart (Cultisol) joins up with David Raison, the designer of his brand new Maximum; a designer who dared to try rounded bows.

In this year's Marie-Agnès Péron Trophy, the two Raison designs – Magnum (the boat with which David won the Mini Transat in 2011) skippered by Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) and Maximum skippered by Davy Beaudart (Cultisol) – gave us a fine duel, way ahead of the classic hull designs.

Giancarlo, en route to qualify for the 'Route du Rhum' in Class40, won't be on the starting line of the Mini Fastnet, but Davy will use the legendary 600 nautical miles to learn from the father of these astonishing hulls.

Impressive rookies and 'oldies but goldies'

Several other familiar faces are coming back for a taste of the Mini Fastnet: Pierre Denjean is partnering Luke Berry (Wild Side). Look out for those two: Luke is new to the circuit, it's his first year as skipper, but he's already chalked up one victory (the ArMen Race, paired with Jorg Riechers, from whom he bought the Prototype), won 2nd place in the Pornichet Select, finished 3rd in the Marie-Agnès Péron Trophy and 4th in the Lorient BSM, where he was also partnered with Pierre.

Another Pierre, and another pair likely to grab a podium spot: Pierre Brasseur (2nd in the Mini Transat 2011 in the Production boats) will skipper the Manuard design alongside Damien Audrain (EPC – Rêves de Clown).

Maxime Salle will sail alongside Jérôme Jarlang (A2J Composites) who is also new to the Mini: another case of sharing experience.

Clément Bouyssou, who has become used to good results in the Production boats since 2010, will sail alongside the newcomer Nicolas d'Estais (Lenger.fr).

Finally, among the 'oldies but goldies', a pair of old hands, Jean-Baptiste Daramy and Pierre-François Dargnies - circuit faithfuls for over ten years - on the 814, a 2011 Bertrand design.

And let's not forget the others, whether rookies or not, old hands or on their way to becoming so!

In the Production Boats, it's also an eclectic and sharing approach

We've already talked about this surprising pair: the newcomer from the Savoie, Arnaud Machado (L'ocean.com), partnering Jimmy Pahun, who is a sailor with a list of successes as long as a Mini Fastnet with no wind – and yet is also a newcomer to the Mini circuit himself.

Another unusual pair next, a mixed Portuguese pair: Antonio Fontès (Stered Lostek) - who delighted everyone last week by finishing 3rd in the Marie-Agnès Péron Trophy even though it was his very first Mini race! – with his co-skipper and life partner Mariana Lobato who also happens to be the sister of Francisco Lobato (winner of the Mini Transat in 2009).

Two pairs of talented old friends who will no doubt be at the forefront:

Damien Cloarec (www.damien-cloarec.fr) is teaming up with Yannick Le Clech. These two have recently won the the ArMen Race, while Damien has also racked up 2 solo wins (the 'Mini en Mai' and the Marie-Agnès Péron Trophy).
Jonas Gerckens (Netwerk) is teaming up with Thibault Reinhart who is celebrating ten years of Mini racing this year!

There's no shortage of young talent on the Mini Fastnet with, notably, Quentin Vlamynck (quentinvlamynck.fr), 3rd in the Pornichet Select and 2nd in the ArMen Race, and the Italian Andrea Fornaro (Sideral), 5th in the difficult 'Mini en Mai', to name but two.

Look out for Coco!

During this race, you should also look out for the all-new Ofcet 650 with Ian Lipinski (Entreprises Innovantes). This Bertrand design, which was put on the water just 10 days ago, has already let its guns do the talking on the Marie-Agnès Péron Trophy. Although a future Production boat, this is the only Ofcet 650 currently racing, so is for the time being officially classed as a Prototype. But, unofficially, in the heart of the fleet of Production boats, its large, bilged hull stands a good chance of being a runaway success. Ian will be partnered by Charlie Pinot, with whom he carried off the 2013 Mini Fastnet in the Production boats.

We haven't space to talk about everyone, but they are all making the story of the Mini Fastnet and they're all ready to write a new page of their own. These 74 sailors are about to experience a slice of life rich in emotions and experience shared. The Mini Fastnet is the Mini spirit in its purest form and it is of course a high-level race where winning depends on the very first moments - which will take place in Douarnenez Bay.

Follow the race:

Mini Fastnet 29th edition:

The Race (around 600 nautical miles): Douarnenez – Chenal du Four – Wolf Rock – Phare du Fastnet – Douarnenez