The Campaign Moves to France

Mar 8

**Settling into Brittany and seeing the new boat come together**

Over the past few months Jane and I packed up our lives, said goodbye to friends and family, and made the move across the Atlantic to Brittany last week. This is a big change for us to not have our apartment in Annapolis anymore, but we feel that it is necessary to focus more of our time together in France.
We are currently renting an AirBnb in the little town of La Trinité-sur-Mer on the Brittany coast, which is where the boat is being built, until we find a place to rent long term. With visas approved, we are going through the process of establishing residency and all the administrative tasks involved with that.

We also re-launched The Mini Transat Mission podcast, so check it out for even more updates and details.

When we first showed up to JPS Production, where the new boat is being built, we saw the hull separated from the mold by just a few inches. It was secured by two chains lifting up the center bulkhead and the hull gently resting on padding.

We were able to witness the process of the hull being lifted out of the mold for the first time. Sam Manuard, the designer, joined us to check in on the work and discuss crucial details as this boat comes together.

**This new prototype is part of the Classe Mini 6.50 box rule**

This ultra light weight construction of the boat is light. It consists of one thin layer of carbon fiber infused on each side of a closed cell foam core.
Inside the boat, you can see an area of white foam towards the stern. When the deck is installed, the cockpit sole will rest on this foam. There is also a similar sized foam area covered in carbon near the bow. Both of these areas are designed to provide buoyancy and displace water in case of an emergency. All boats in the fleet are required to have this additional flotation volume.
The life raft will be stowed just aft of this foam and within reach externally through the stern hatch.

Check out that hull shape as it is designed to both foil out of the water and sail in displacement mode in lighter wind conditions. The large foils will exit the concave section on each side of the hull. They will retract all the way in as required by the class rules when crossing the starting line. Additionally, the large scow bow increases the volume preventing the boat from diving into waves and supports the use of more sail area when off the wind. Note: there is a strip along the top few inches of the hull that will peal off to provide an area that the deck will be infused onto to maintain the correct thickness of the hull.

Plenty more pictures and updates coming soon. Can’t wait to show you all the deck!

**Finished with the Mold**

Moving the mold out from under the boat was a team effort. This mold will be stored indoors and now available for lease to help build more Minis like this one! It is the only mold of its type for a Manuard designed fully foiling prototype. If you are interested in this mold for building a new boat, reach out and let’s talk.

We are still seeking support through donations to race for U.S. Patriot Sailing and provide more opportunities for helping veterans navigate challenges through sailing. If you want to donate to this campaign or U.S. Patriot Sailing, please click the button bellow. Thank you!

Donate and Support this Campaign

More video updates on Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PGN Ocean Racing (@pgnoceanracing)

Join the Mission — New Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available

Sailing Terminal Leave in Annapolis this October (Photo Credit: Matt Ellis)

Looking Ahead — The 2027 Mission

While the last campaign focused on raising awareness for U.S. Patriot Sailing, this new mission is about expanding support — enabling the organization to create even more opportunities for veterans.

One major goal of U.S. Patriot Sailing is to introduce a cruising platform where veterans and their families can share calm, restorative experiences on the water — a vital way to strengthen connection and healing.

U.S. Patriot Sailing remains 100% volunteer-run, accomplishing its mission solely through the generous support of individual donors and grants. Together, we can make this next phase possible.

Donate HERE to support the U.S. Patriot Sailing team.

From raising awareness to expanding support — together, we’re building more opportunities for veterans.

Follow the Mission

As this campaign builds momentum, please makes sure you are following along and stay connected:

Website: www.pgnoceanracing.com
Social Media: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube (@pgnoceanracing)
- Instagram usually has the most frequent and quick updates!
Donate: You can support this new campaign with a tax deductible donation through U.S. Patriot Sailing — helping not only this mission, but also the veterans this organization serves. You can choose where your donation goes exactly: support a local team, this 2027 Mini Transat campaign, or the organization at large. Donate HERE

The support for the 2023 Mini Transat was the foundation for everything we’ve achieved so far. I hope you will be part of the adventure as we set out for this new mission.