MiniTransat 2019 - EllesAimentlaMer !

The MiniTransat is a crazy and very serious adventure ! Founded in 1972 it's a Transatlantic  race called "Mini" because it's sailed on the smallest offshores boats. Solo handed, without assistance neither communication, it's a peak for sailors ! During about 30 days of navigation, splitted in two legs, it starts from La Rochelle, toward Martinique, with a stop in Canarias Islands.

The MiniTransat represents a rear occasion to face power and wilderness of nature and to prove force of humans with an entire humility and simplicity !
Because the constraints are tough, it creates powerfull situations, uniques paths and histories, sportwise and humanwise. 

 I am a young women photographer, capturing the intensity of sailors, seaworld, and peoples at work in general is my passion.
I didn't grew up close to the seaside, but since i met the boats 4 years and a half ago, I was immediately cautgh. I gave all my time to learn how to sail. Sailing energize me ! With the MiniTransat I am launching one great adventure of my life.

Among a thousand of men sailors who sailed the MiniTransat, less than 80 are women. Being one of them will be a huge honnor ! For that reason, the project is called "Theylove thesea" ( with female conjugaison in french ) as a balance to the website of my photography I created called "Theylovethesea.com" with male conjugaison in french).

I the beginning, I was pretty shy on races, there was so much to assimilate ! One year and and a couple of thousands milles later, with intensive training, I now my boat companion very well, I am faster than ever ! I know my limits and want to push them further . I will give everything ! 

 "SOLEY" number 890, is the name of my faithfull buddy. That means " sun" in creole language.
Like all the "Mini 6.50" boats that part to the MiniTransat, she is 6,50 meters length for 3 meters wide and weight less than 1 ton. She is a nutshell, but very strong, unsikable, and however very fast ! She can wear about 200 meters of sails ! I have to tame the beast who is everytime ready to leap and surf !

We have the goal to overtake our speed record : 17,5 kts ! 

To be light and go fast, SOLEY accepts onboard only the vital necessery :

• One unique room of 2m3
• No kitchen, only a camping stove and dry food.
• No fridge, off course.. 
• No bathroom, shower, neither WC ( like in wildside camping )
• No bed, but a big light cushion, and sails bags to sleep on, naps of 30 min max 
• full equiped on electronic sensors and calculators to help the autopilot to steer when I am sleeping.
• Without communication, no GSM, no computeur, no sattelite communications, paper charts and VHF radio only !