TRANSAT AG2R CONCARNEAU / ST BARTH - ON 2008: MIGUEL DANET SEES HIS CHILD'S DREAM COMING TRUE.

An Interview with Miguel Danet...

(Reprinted from articles appearing in Le Journal de Saint-Barth & St Barth News)

Since the age of 6 years, Miguel has attend all the arrivals of all the Transat AG2R races and always had a dream to participate in it. This dream which it has never forgotten and which so much made beat its heart, is finally going to become reality during next Transat AG2R Concarneaux / St . Barth.

On the occasion of Transat AG2R " Concarneau / St.barth ", in 2006, the mayors of both communities met and the idea was born to create a mixed crew " Concarneau / St-Barth ". Miguel applies. An agreement between both municipalities is signed and Miguel coit to confide(entrust) the responsibility for representing the island in next Transat.

The financing of this crew is shared between both municipalities. The TOP LOC company is partner in 50 % with the Community for the Saint Barth's financial part.

Forthe last 2 years Miguel has been the skipper of "Wayayaï", catamaran Privilege 45 of the company of Top charter flight Loc Loc/St-Barth Sailing. In spite of his young age, 22 years, Miguel knew how to conquer the world of the sail. He is especially very appreciated by the clientele of Wayayaï, both for his professionalism and for his extreme kindness and his patience.

Miguel, what are your different experiences in navigation?
2004: Journeys(shopping) in double(copy) on Mini-Transat 6.50 in partnership with the island of Saint Barthèlemy - Méditérranée
2003: Europa Cup 60ème / 184 - Bordeaux lake of Hourtin and the championship of Martinique 3ème / 22
2002: Championship of France 22nd Hope/60 - Martigues
Caribbean Open Laser Championships 3ème / 48 - Saint Martin
2001-2003: Light sail " Laser Radial nerve " in Pole Espoir - Martinique
2001: Championship of Martinique 4ème / 25; 100 veils(sails) 2ème / 17 - Guadeloupe
2000: Nautical week of Schoelcher 4ème / 30 - Martinique
1995-2000: sporting school " Optimist-St-Barthèlemy Equip and

You are going to participate in your first Transat AG2R, the date approach are you anxious?
Anxious? A little bit anxious but it is " as if I left for Pinel with the team of News (editor's note: it begins well!!). Of more the race will take place without too much music " World " (problem of energy on board) and it is not thus too much " wayayaï ". The trainings in full January to Concarneau it is not the bathing of Sunday in Din followed by its quite warm p' ti meal to Pinel. When in the sleep, it is not as to go out till no hour, it is not Brigitte!!!

What is the official name of the boat?
The boat was baptized "Concarneau / St . Barth".

How was your meeting with your team-mate during your passage to Concarneau in October?
My meeting with Eric Peron took place in the city hall of Concarneau with the members of the municipality to define the objectives and the main lines of the project. Eric benefits from a first experience of Transat AG2R. It is one more in our partnership.

You fly away on Wednesday for the metropolis, what is the purpose of this movement?
A local delegation leaves at the beginning of December to Paris to officialize the union between both communities, present the crew and the boat to the press through the stand of the organizer of the race during the Boat show.

On what date is your departure for the preparation foreseen?
I am travelling to Europe at the middle of January for the launch of the boat in Concarneau and then both team members we will join “Port la Forêt”, the official base of training of the participants in Transat.

What is the official date of the launch of the Transat race?
The departure of the Transat will be given on April 20th and we hope for an arrival on St Barth near May 15th.

What are the hopes of position on results?
It is evident that the best place will be welcome but I chose to face this big challenge in " face-to-face " for more important reasons because, for me, this crossing is more than a simple race... It is the team which works in the same sense win in humanity. Through this adventure I’d shall like to restore the liking for races and motivation of the local population, quite particularly, it competition optimist team of the Saint Barth Yacht club so that they find too the challenge.

For Saint Barthèlemy's Collectivity the challenge is about the same, and even if since two consecutive Transat races, there was no local participation the important is not to be absolutely classified in the first ones but to participate, above all, in a human great adventure to motivate the youth to participate more massively in this kind of challenge.

The quality do not wait for the value of the years... Miguel, proves hit by his talent and his maturity and we wish him the best position in results, because he deserves it widely, but the most mattering is that this participation in Transat, Miguel set an example and proves that when we do have a dream, when we grow there and when we hang on to it one day the dream becomes reality.

To conclude, Miguel is anxious to thank from the bottom of the heart his parents: " they gave me everything to help me become what I am today. Without them, this dream would never have maybe accomplished ".