On September 26, 2021, Hugo Picard, youtubeur and skipper known as The Sailing Frenchman, embarked on an incredible project: participating in the Mini Transat, a famous solo boat race...
Photo credit: Hugo Picard
A destined skier all traced... or almost!
Hugo grew up in the heart of the Pyrenees, so it is quite naturally that he becomes a ski teacher. Persuaded that the mountain is its favourite area, it would never have imagined that one day, the sea would become its element. It is by joining the sailing association of his school in Montpellier in 2013 that Hugo discovers a new passion: the seas and oceans. This is the beginning of a great love story.
A few years later, in 2017, The Sailing Frenchman buys a boat, the "Ann Alé", at the symbolic price of a euro and starts renovating it in order to be able to navigate. After spending an incalculable number of hours repairing the “Ann Alé”, he finally becomes his own floating house.
Hugo is therefore the first of many swords across the Atlantic and spent two seasons exploring the Caribbean islands.
Photo credit: Hugo Picard
The Mini Transat: an adventure that starts!
After a few years of working and gleaning the experience as a skipper, Hugo sets out as a goal to participate in the Mini-Transat . Created in 1977 by Bob Salmon, this transatlantic solo race on a 6-metre-50 sailboat is considered the nursery of the champions of the offshore race and the skippers of the Vendée Globe tomorrow. A mythical event that all enthusiasts consider as a springboard for new adventures. The bottle at the sea is thrown.
As he was not involved in the Mini-Transat, Hugo appealed to his community to achieve his goal. This is especially thanks to the co-organization we co-organized on Ulule that Hugo was able to finance the purchase of coins for his new boat and go to realize his personal challenge!
A dream finally realized
Yes, thanks to you, Hugo was able to live his adventure and realize his dream. Today we are happy to be able to thank you and keep you informed of results of this race .
For the 23rd edition of this solo race that is the Mini-Transat, 84 sailors threw themselves to the water!
How did it go? Two steps! If the first step was to connect the Sables d’Olonne to the Canary Islands, the second was to cross the Atlantic to reach Guadeloupe.
After a total of 28 days against winds and tides, it was on Tuesday 16 November 2021 at 9:42 that Hugo was crossing the finish line of the second stage of his incredible sword, in 34th position!
Photo credit: Hugo Picard
Thank you.
During this last stage, Hugo lived the Transatlantic he dreamed of. In fact, he told Mini-Transat during an interview that his first crossing of the Atlantic had taken him 31 days. Well, since November 16, 2021, his new record is set at 17 days! A tremendous improvement in this Skipper we are all proud of!
All this could not have been possible without the support of all the people who trusted Hugo and believed in his project.
We therefore wanted to particularly thank the following individuals:
roland-tirel, chantalbailly, kennett-rb, bartongib, hamish975, florian3489, helenerenard-, louisbeyssac, mpcortier, e-gerardin34, jmtaverney, chamonier, gabor-skornyik, matcaubs, romscaubs, sandra-marichal, and Sam team
We conclude these thanks by the words of Hugo, because no one can express his gratitude better than he:
"The race off alone may seem a very individual sport. But if we are alone at sea, a offshore race project is a team work. If I was able to make my first transatlantic solo, in race, on a fast, safe and marine boat, it is especially thanks to you.
It is not only your contribution to the purchase of equipment and equipment for the boat that brought me on the starting line. It is the conviction that I was not the only one to believe in this crazy idea of crossing an ocean on a boat of the size of a monospace. So for all this, thank you a thousand times and good wind. »
Photo credit: Hugo Picard
Still bravo to Hugo, and good courage for the next adventure!
If you would like to follow all Hugo’s adventures, don’t hesitate to go see her channel Youtube And his videos!
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