NEWS :: Capt. Jarosław Kaczorowski

The Les Sables - Acores - Les Sables regatta

70 sailors aboard Mini Transat Class yachts began their struggle with the Atlantic Ocean.
They have to cover 1300 NM, which means several days of single-handed sailing. Capt. Jarosław Kaczorowski in an exclusive companion is competing for a qualification to the 2007 Mini Transat race.

The city of Les Sables d'Olonne, famous for the Vendee Globe regatta, became a partner of this Mini class race. Despite the fact that it is the first sport event of this magnitude for both the club and the city, the organization is very professional.


		(From Les Sables) Marek "Goły" Gałkiewicz on Capt. Jarosław Kaczorowski's start in the AZAB regatta: July 30, 2006 After several days of preparations a colorful fleet of Mini Transat yachts left Port Olonna and sailed out for the first leg of the Les Sables - Les Acores - Les Sables regatta. Unfortunately, the start coincided with an atmospheric front which just at the beginning of the race treated the skippers with a heavy rain and wind of 20 kn having no mercy on crowds gathered on the beach. As the organizers wanted to drew public attention to the first edition of the regatta, they set buoys very close to the shore. Unfortunately, just in the moment of start a downpour covered everything and visibility was limited to 200 m. Fortunately, together with Jure (Slovenian routier) and Ana (PR Adria4ocen) we were offered to sail to the start line aboard one of the "security" yachts - Beneteau Figaro, belonging to our invaluable host - Guillaume Huser. Despite being very close to the line, we couldn't see anything. Only counting down before the start evidenced that behind the wall of rain something is really going on. Our skipper decided to set sails, turn the engine on and make our way to the first buoy as fast as it was possible. Adrien Hardy aboard Brossard took the lead on the first lap. Our Slovenian friend Andraz Mihelin aboard Adria Mobil Too had also a good start being second on a higher buoy. Jaro started smoothly trying not to get involved in any spinnaker fight in the crowd of seventy yachts in a very limited space. At the beginning of the race the stake was divided into two groups according to the tactics chosen. Some of the yachts sailed north the line where the wind direction was more favourable but stronger, and some decided to sail south the route line with a weaker wind (25 kn!) of less favourable direction but smoother see. On such small boats high waves are really devastating. According to the assumptions, Jaro sailed south in order not to strain the equipment in the beginning. Our main aim was to finish the race because only in this way one can get the qualification the 2007 MiniTransat. You can watch the position of all sailors thanks to interactie map of the race: http://lessables-lesacores.geovoile.com Information is updated two times a day A few words from me Last few months were really hard, especially those several days before Jarek's start. Preparing the boat to such a race means working shifts. You have to work three shifts. Despite the fact that our yacht is not any longer in Les Sables, my work isn't over and I can only dream of basking on a beautiful 20 km long beach or sipping beverages in local bars;-) As a shore and technical service, PR manager, photographer and a crew in one I am flying to Azory on August 8th . I have to take with me some tools, resin, coal, food, clothes for Jaro, a camera, a filler and 100 other things which can be useful on the Azores, and which Jaro couldn't take on the boat because of their weigh. I have to find some space for my personal things as well. Greetings for all who prepare the boats for races. Let the Neptun be favourable to you and repay you with interest for your hard work. Greetings from Les Sables, Marek "Goły" Gałkiewicz Translated by Anna Greczuk