To Katrina, the Mini Transat is the ultimate test of a sailor. on October 13th 2013 84 tiny 21ft yachts will race from Douarnenez, France to Guadaloupe via the Canaries. Not only that they will do it completely solo and will limited navigational equipment and with no communication with shore.

In October 2012, Katrina (25 years old) arrived in Lorient with her rucksack and a pressing desire to do offshore solo racing. She choose Lorient, the centre of the world for offshore racing and found herself a boat, a Nacira 6.50 series boat number 785.

Katrina_wichard

Not speaking a word of French, she managed to find a job two days a week teaching English with Amanda Grey - and started to look for sponsors and to qualify for the race.

She managed to convince several small companies to support her campaign:

Ericamandine The Le Borgne boatyard in Baden to prepare her boat for the race

Amanda Grey training centre in Caudan

The accounting firm Océane PME for administration

NKE Marine Electronics for navigation equipment

Wichard /Profurl for deckgear

Sandrine de Courcy and her Made in Marinière jewellery for press relations.

Pantaenius for her insurance.

Katrina successfully qualified for the race and is now looking to complete her budget to cross the Atlantic in the best possible conditions.

Dscn1840

Follow Katrina's adventures on her blog.

Dscn1910

Une australienne dans la Mini Transat 2013