Yahoo News Dumfriesshire sailor bids for spot in solo transatlantic yacht race
Dumfriesshire’s fearless female sailor, Rebecca Coles, has kick-started an ambitious campaign to compete for a spot in next year’s prestigious Mini Transat Race – a solo transatlantic yacht endeavour.
The 23-year-old former St Joseph’s College pupil, who grew up just outside Lochmaben, races with professional sailing teams in an “unconventional and pretty male dominated job”.
A rising star in the sailing world, she is already inspiring young women in sailing – 3.5k follow her social media platforms – and she is known for her support of ocean conservation.
She is proud of her roots in the region and said she hopes her endeavours will “inspire women and young people from Dumfries and Galloway which is a region I’m really proud to represent.”
She studied at Southampton University as a silver sports scholar for her sailing, and her extensive experience working as a professional sailor – and on some of the best racing shore teams – further underscores her capabilities and dedication to the sport.
Rebecca said: “It’s an unconventional and pretty male dominated job, but I love it and I’m working really hard to continue to be successful.
“I’m based in Southampton but I am very proud of being from Dumfries and Galloway – and being in Scottish in general – and I’ve felt very supported by people from home as I’ve pursued this career.”
Despite her youth, she is an experienced offshore sailor with a transatlantic crossing and tens of thousands of nautical miles under her belt.
Now she’ll be drawing on her courage, dedication and perseverance as she wants to put her skills to the test by racing in the Mini Transat 2025.
It is a gruelling 4,000-nautical-mile solo race from Les Sables-d’Olonne to Guadeloupe via the Canaries in September, that demands sailors to sleep in 20-minute intervals while pushing their boats to the limit around the clock.
Notably, no woman has ever won the ‘Proto Class’ of the Mini Transat – and that’s a challenge for Rebecca – who cut her teeth sailing at Annandams sailing club – is determined to overcome.
The ‘Protos’ are the cutting-edge development class of the Mini 6.5 metres boat, featuring the latest foiling technology, enabling them to plane out of the water and reach speeds as high as 25 knots.
Rebecca must show her mettle at solo unassisted racing and also raise £150,000 to fund the Mini Transat challenge.
She said: “I am seeking sponsorship for the project.
“I have been able to get it off the ground using my own savings, but now I am looking for a sponsor to come on
board.
“I would love to hear from anyone interested in becoming a sponsor to join my journey in making Mini Transat history.”
She officially launched her campaign last weekend when she achieved an impressive second-place finish in her debut Class Mini offshore sailing race, the Mini Fastnet, alongside renowned co-skipper Carlos Manera Pascual.
Sailing onboard n° 1081, XUCLA, the duo showcased exceptional skill and determination throughout the challenging 600-mile course.
Match racing against the top runners throughout the race, the pair finished in three days, 17 hours, 12 minutes, and 30 seconds, with an average speed of 6.31 knots.
Due to adverse weather, race directors opted for an alternate route less than 24 hours before the race, sending competitors southwards to the BXA buoy in the Bay of Biscay instead of the iconic Fastnet lighthouse off the coast of Ireland.
The fleet was faced with a variety of challenging conditions, with a brisk downwind leg to the first mark before a slower upwind stint along France’s north-west coast in a dying breeze.
Rebecca had entered the race with just one week’s notice before it departed from Douarnenez, France.
With little time to prepare and only a few delivery miles sailing on the boat, her podium result in a fleet of 85 is even more impressive.
Rebecca, who is heavily involved in the shoreside and logistics of the teams she works with from her base in Southampton, said: “The Mini Fastnet Race was a fantastic opportunity for me to test myself against top, young international sailors in the Classe Mini and prove that I have what it takes to launch my own campaign for a solo transatlantic race.
“The Mini Fastnet was challenging and dynamic, with strong winds, unstable sea state, last-minute course change, fierce tides and very little sleep.
“But I stayed focussed and I am delighted with the
result.
• Any business who would like to be a sponsor for Rebecca in her potentially record-breaking challenge can contact her by email at: rcoles6062@gmail.com; @rebecoles, or www.rcoles.com.
