How long have you been racing and how much ocean racing experience
did you have before the Mini boat?

DDS:
I'm sailing since I'm very young, my first boat was an Optimist, my second a Laser. After that I have stopped sailing for about ten years, and restarted sailing ten years ago. I have raced on one-design and IMS boats and 12 meter JI. Since 5 years old I've been dreaming to do off-shore races. In 2003 I ordered my mini and I raced in 2004 the Mini Barcelona (500 miles) to 7th, then the Mini Max (500 miles) to 1st, the Triangle du Soleil (500 miles) 3rd, and the Mini Solo (110milles) 16th. In 2005 I raced the Course des Lions on an other mini boat as a co-skipper (500 miles) 3rd, the Mini Solo (110 Milles) first, the Mini Fastnet (700 miles) 12th, and the Transgascogne (600miles) 7th.

EC:
Not long, first time sailing was on the BT challenge boats in 2000. Then later carried on local races in Asia and some International ones as crew.

K&A:
Sailing from about when we could walk. Mostly inshore races and round the cans, some IMS and one-design. Middle Sea Race on VOR 60 and than Minis from 2002. Not much ocean experience, though. Minis were our offshore racing school.

What was the biggest concern for you in the last leg that affected your performance?

DDS:
I have been very slow in the race, too much pressure when I had to fully concentrate, I destroyed my big kite, and some little things on the boat.

EC:
I had a little bump at the start and was afraid to strain the port side till I got it checked out properly so had no kites on the port tacks/gybes.

K&A:
First leg started wrong. Too much stress before the start, pushing too hard through the first night and breaking medium/small spinnaker derailed us right at the start. It was really difficult to find the rhythm after you knew that you already lost at least 8 hours. Some other small breakages combined with lack of experience at the end pushed us down the rankings - 23rd and 30th place out of 72. Really disappointing, considering our results in this season (510 - 3rd in Select 650, 5th in Mini Pavois, 3rd in Mini Fastnet and then the 509 - 3rd in Odyssee d'Ulysse, 9th in Mini Pavois). Fortunately we are within 24 hours from the leader so we are full on for the second leg.

How was your sleep pattern in the last leg? Did you ever get bored?

DDS:
I have not sleep during the first 36 hours, and after that I have sleep about 3 or 4 hours a day in 30 minutes parts. It was a very difficult leg because the wind was all the time around 20 to 25 knots and up to 30 (33 max for me) - you don't have not much time to leave your boat under auto pilot.

EC:
Not much as batteries were not charging properly so had to steer through the day to get the batteries to hold for a few hours in the night. Bored... not yet.

K&A:Scattered. Approximately 3hours per day but not in the right rhythm. Big chunk of sleep when I broke my pole and couldn't fly spinnakers until epoxy hardened and almost none for the last few days. Bored - no. Just had problems with motivation after breakages. It's hard to be bored on a boat that makes 100 miles in 8 hours and 4 minutes (from 150 to 50 miles to the finish).

How many calories do you consume per day during racing? All freeze dried food and snack or did you find some variety in Asian products?

DDS:
For my first races I eat only 3000 to 4000 calories per day, and it was really not enough, now I eat about 6000 to 7000 calories ant my weight is stable. I eat Asian foods and dehydrated foods, different flavors. some time I open a can for better foods (less calories, but really best flavor).

EC:
I have been sponsored by the local supplier Singapore Food Industries who provides food for the local army. Not freeze-dried, just open the pack and eat. Comes in local varieties ... yummy.

K&A:
Should be round 2000 calories. Mainly carbohydrates in form of bars or gels, tuna cans, cheese, cup noodle soups (Myself only once – the pace was too hard for regular cooking). Tried Singapore special forces survival ration which was kindly given to us by fellow
competitor Elein Chua - my impression: for survival only).

Who was your closest competition or a pal in the fleet?

DDS:
In this mini, we are 5 Super Calin (my boat model), my objective is to be the first. I 'd like to beat the Pogo 1 and some other boats. My objective is to finish in top ten in Serie class.

EC:
David on 466. He's taught me a lot since I started, got to know him in the second race where he was my co-skipper. We get along well and try and beat each other as well.

K&A:
Ha this is a tricky one. My real competition left after first night so rest of the race was catch up game. Spend some time chatting with Swiss/English competitor Toby Hochreutener - really refreshing after few days of listening French on the VHF.

Which Mini boat would you rather be sailing on the second leg?

DDS:
I stay on my boat!!!!!!!!!!!! I love her!

EC:
Still on Feng. she's a great boat.

K&A:
No other than ours. Manuard design is personally and generally considered to be best boat for second leg. Thanks to extremely wide waterline, canting keel and 180 liters of lateral water ballast no one can touch her in reaching conditions. And from approximately 10 North it should be all reaching to Brazil.

How will you please Neptune when crossing the equator?

DDS:
Give a kiss! I have no champagne no alcohol, may be a Cohiba robusto.
Cheers, David De Saqui de Sannes
Skipper of the Mini 466 "Lady Paulette" Based in Marseille.

EC:
Hmmm... tune in for that at the end of the race :oP
My website is www.elainechua.com

K&A:
Still deciding on that one. We were considering alcoholic beverages but we are not sure if we want to have drunk Neptune taking care for us. So he'll most likely get some other treat.