【慈幼通訊社 ─2025年7月8日萊薩布勒－多洛訥】著名的單人跨大西洋帆船賽「迷你跨大西洋帆船賽」（Mini Transat）將於9月21日從法國萊薩布勒－多洛訥（Les Sables-d’Olonnes）出發，目的地為大西洋彼岸的瓜德羅普島（Guadeloupe）。比賽全程約25天，共7,500公里，選手們將不會有陸地的聯繫或援助。
在首航的90艘帆船中（皆為6.50公尺長的小帆船），其中一艘由39歲的Aymeric le Renard擔任船長，他已婚並育有兩個孩子。幾個月前，Aymeric聯繫了巴黎的「鮑思高神父基金會（Fondation Don Bosco）」，提議將慈幼會網絡與這項意義非凡的體育和人文冒險聯繫起來。他希望在航行的同時，支持與青年和社會包容相關的事業，並表示對慈幼會在法國，尤其是瓜德羅普島，圍繞 Lakou Bosco Work開展的活動非常感興趣。對慈幼會來說，這個請求具有像徵意義，尤其在我們慶祝第一批傳教士出發150周年的這一年。
船帆上裝飾著令人聯想到鮑思高神父的圖案，並以五種語言（法語、英語、義大利語、德語和阿拉伯語）印著「相信青年（Believing in young people）」的字樣。此外，還有幾家慈幼會基金會—「奧地利鮑思高傳教策勵」（Don Bosco Mission Austria）和「瑞士鮑思高世界青年協會」（Swiss Don Bosco Jugendhilfe Weltweit） —以及非政府組織「鮑思高網絡」（Don Bosco Network）也參與了該項目，因此它們的名字也出現在船身上。
因此，決定通過購買一輛小巴來支持瓜德羅普的Lakou Bosco工作，以便讓青年在活動期間能夠方便出行。
許多來自法國慈幼會學校的青年也參與了這次慈善遠洋航行，例如Saint Chély-d’Apcher學校、Ressins學校和Gradignan學校的學生，他們將為船長準備旅途中的膳食。慈幼會Campus de Pouillé House將捐贈水果，而來自Liban的鮑思高工業學校的學生將準備乾果。
「迷你跨大西洋帆船賽」創辦於1977年，每兩年舉辦一次。這是一項在海洋賽艇界獨樹一幟的比賽：一場人類努力超越科技的挑戰，每位船長都在面對惡劣天氣時克服自己的極限。許多知名的船長，如Michel Desjoyeaux、Ellen MacArthur和Loïck Peyron，都在這場比賽中開啟了他們的職業生涯。
更多資訊請前往「Fondation Don Bosco」網站。
France – A sailing boat dedicated to Don Bosco will cross the Atlantic this autumn
(ANS – Les Sables-d’Olonnes) – The ‘Mini Transat’, a famous solo transatlantic regatta, will set off from Les Sables-d’Olonnes, France, on 21 September next: towards Guadeloupe, on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. It is about 25 days of racing and 7,500 kilometres to cover without contact with land or assistance.
Among the 90 boats at the start (all identical, small 6.50 metre sailboats) is one skippered by Aymeric le Renard, 39 years old, married, two children. A few months ago, Aymeric contacted the “Fondation Don Bosco” in Paris to propose associating the Salesian network with this incredible sporting and human adventure. His wish was indeed to sail while supporting a cause related to young people and social inclusion, and he had been fascinated by the actions of the Salesian network in France and in Guadeloupe in particular, around the Lakou Bosco Work. For the Salesian Family, this request seemed symbolic, especially in this year when we celebrate 150 years since the departure of the first missionary expedition.
The sails were decorated with motifs reminiscent of Don Bosco and the phrase ‘Believing in young people’ was printed on them, in five languages (French, English, Italian, German and Arabic). In addition, several Salesian Foundations – Don Bosco Mission Austria and the Swiss Don Bosco Jugendhilfe Weltweit – and the “Don Bosco Network” NGO joined the project and their names therefore appear on the hull.
It was therefore decided to support the Lakou Bosco work in Guadeloupe through the purchase of a minibus to enable the young people to travel during their activities.
Many young people from French Salesian schools have also been involved in this charitable ocean crossing, such as the pupils of Saint Chély-d’Apcher, Ressins and Gradignan, who will prepare the meals that the skipper will enjoy during his journey. The Salesian Campus de Pouillé House will donate fruit, while the boys from Don Bosco Liban will prepare dried fruit rations.
The “Mini Transat”, created in 1977, takes place every two years. It is a race in its own right in the world of ocean racing: a challenge in which human endeavour exceeds technology, in which each skipper overcomes his own limits in the face of the elements. Many famous skippers such as Michel Desjoyeaux, Ellen MacArthur or Loïck Peyron took their first steps in this race.
More information is available on the “Fondation Don Bosco” website.