They are 26 and 22 years old. One is from Concarneau and one from Saint Barthélemy island.

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

Some weeks ago Eric Péron and Miguel Danet even didn’t know each other but shared the same dream to participate in the 2008 Transat AG2R édition. Today, at the ‘Café de la Course au Large’ of the French boat show, both skippers were presented to the press in the presence of representatives of both communities behind them for this beautiful adventure.

Two years ago, for the 8th edition of the Transat AG2R, Concarneau had been chosen as city of departure. A real present for our city confided Gilbert Le Bris, member of French Parliament and mayor of the city. The entire community got involved in this event, as well the economic actors as the population. And this link cast by sailors through the Atlantic Ocean between us and Saint-Barthélemy became a reality by a handshake with the promise to engage a common boat on this 9th edition.

Kilometers far from there, this shared feeling also took shape with the creation of an educational project in which all the primary schools of Saint-Barthélemy will participate. Beyond a boat flying the colours of both communities, their responsibles wished a mixed crew, composed with both a sailor from Saint-Barthélemy and a sailor from Concarneau, youthful-looking and in outlook, and “with a constant state of promesses. And so, Miguel Danet and Eric Péron meet themselves embarked on the same adventure. For both skippers, this "marriage of reason" quickly became a share of competence, then, in the course of the weeks, of complicity. From January, Miguel Danet will join Eric Péron to Concarneau. They will have then some months to train in the training center of ‘Port La Forêt’, to learn how to navigate together and to be acquainted each other. But, to see their cheerful expressions in the ‘Café de la Course au Large’ off Pen Duick this morning, the history left well.

The transat Concarneau-Saint-Barthélemy will dash on April 20th , 2008 of Concarneau. All of the partners met in Paris in the boat show, for the launch of the demonstration. To begin with the crew of the boat Concarneau-Saint-Barth consisted of Éric Péron, 26 years, navigator and 22-year-old Miguel Danet, skipper of a catamaran of the Top company Loc in the Carribbean islands. They were both, committed by the communities of the city of departure and that of the arrival, to bear their flag over the Atlantic Ocean.

Operation commando group
Both young sailors are going to begin from January a program of extensive training with the cooperation of the pole ‘France Finistère Ocean race’. « An operation commando group, laugh both men. Our sports objective is to finish among the ten first ones. But especially, we want to make the schools of Concarneau and Saint-Barth participate in this project, by nourishing their envy to sail. » The boat, provided by the company Auremat, will be baptized to Concarneau, on January 19th .

Concarneau welcomes for the second time this Transat. The city of Concarneau has to manage of the transfer to cross(spend) of the fishing in multi-activities, entrusts the mayor Gilbert Le Bris. The port is in the city and the city is in sync with the port. Ocean racing, sailing and fishing have their place there. The reception of the Transat is made in a space dedicated to the fishing and the local committee of fishing is partner.