Hugo Picard alias
The Sailing Frenchman
"Hi, I'm Hugo! In 2017, I spent six months rebuilding my sailboat Ann Alé, took it across the Atlantic, and spent two years there exploring the islands of the Caribbean. But it wasn't long before I started wondering if I could get her to go faster, because as much as I loved my boat, she had the average speed of a person walking. So, I started racing and set myself some big goals! In September, I'll be competing with my new title sponsor, SVB, and the SVB Team at Mini Transat 2021!"
From the mountains to the sea
Hugo Picard grew up in the French Pyrenees. This, combined with his love of the mountains
and nature, meant that a career as a ski instructor was virtually a foregone conclusion.
But a thirst for adventure pushed him to look further afield, and he spent a lot of time travelling during and after his studies.
An opportunity arose and he acquired a boat in exchange for a beer, and finally his fate was sealed.
The sea called out to Hugo. It drew Hugo.
Facts and figures
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Boat
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years solo sailing
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miles
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offshore races
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place overall ranking Class Mini 2020
Hugo´s sailing experience
From start to present.
2017-2018: Ecume de Mer
In 2017, Hugo quit his job as a project manager at the UN and began to rebuild and refit his Anne Alé - a 26-foot sailing antique, as Hugo himself says. He did all the work himself, getting both boat and sailor ready for their first Atlantic crossing. After successfully crossing the Atlantic, Hugo spent 2 years in the Caribbean, where he earned his money as a skipper on charter trips and boat transfers.
2018: Clipper 70
In 2018, Hugo successfully took part as a first mate in the Clipper Round the World race. Teams on the 10 month regatta are lead by professional skipper and first mate. The crew consists of amateur sailors whom must complete a rigorous four week training before starting the race. Hugo and his crew finished the race in 2nd place.
2021: Mini Transat
"It was a beautiful day with winds of about 22 ktn. We set the spinnaker and
BOOM....suddenly we were doing 17 ktn! This was the moment I knew I was going to sail
the Mini Transat with just this boat!", says Hugo.
In October 2020, he won the Mini regatta at
the
Marie-Agnés-Péron-Trophy!
Hugo´s sailing career in moving pictures
Three boats, three projects! You can follow Hugo on his journey from the Ann Alé to his current project in the Classe Mini here.
Minimalism at its purest
on land, as on water
Hugo has had to forego a great deal in pursuit of his dream. More than anything, this has been space:
His van, where he lives, is a space of just over 10 m². On his boat, the SVB Team, he has about 12 m² .
Hands On!
Hugo´s strong will, determination and courage to get things done is
reflected not only in his character,
but also in his boating life and
the work he has done on it. Do it yourself. We can help you!
Check out our guides here
Sketches done by the man himself
Hugo´s thoughts were with his boat even during lectures at university, where he would sketch drawings of the hull and motor, the first steps on the way to the refit.
He taught himself how to do it
He challenged himself and learnt a few things using his own initiative. In short: he alone got his boat seaworthy.
He did everything in only 6 months
That’s how long it took to refit the 26 ft boat, the Anne Alé. All done by Hugo himself
Ready for anything
The endless hours Hugo spent refitting Ann Alé gave him a sound understanding not only of the boat, but also of the equipment, engine and rigging. The perfect preparation needed to successfully sail a single-handed regatta.
Join Hugo on his journey:
Hugo records his journeys in exciting sailing vlogs and shares his experiences and valuable tips on his YouTube channel!
Every ounce of support counts !
Become part of the adventure! SVB is already a sponsor. You too can make a donation and help Hugo get his boat ready for the regatta. There’s still a lot that Hugo needs for a successful series. Among other things, a new spinnaker!
You can't bluff in sailing. In many professions you can bluff your way through. On a sailboat, you either know or you don't.
Eric Tabarly: French sailing legend