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Ben Beasley knows his road to achieving a lifelong sailing dream will be a lonely one - and that’s the way he likes it.
The 22-year-old Kiwi just started his first Figaro season, a series of gruelling races across six months as part of the French Elite Offshore Championships, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for La Solitaire du Figaro - the unofficial world championships of solo offshore sailing.
Beasley arrived in France in February to take the helm of Ocean Attitude, a “very wet” Figaro Beneteau 3, and on Tuesday was among 44 sailors in 22 boats on the start line for the Laura Vergne Trophy – a 350nm race off La Trinité-sur-Mer on the south coast of Brittany.
He plans to also sail in the Tour de Bretagne (from June 29-July 9) and the Solo Guy Cotten (from July 23-30) before – hopefully – lining up for the pinnacle 1850nm La Solitaire from August 19.
“I decided to sign up for the season because the best offshore sailors in the IMOCA class have come out of the Figaro and it really is the best training ground for solo offshore sailing,” Beasley explained shortly before heading off to La Trinité-sur-Mer.
“My intention is to spend several years in the Figaro class. The Vendée Globe is my ultimate dream but the Figaro class is the best class to prepare for it.”
Ben Beasley is competing in his first Figaro season aboard Ocean Attitude. Photo / Supplied
The Vendée Globe is a single-handed non-stop round-the-world race that is sailed every four years and is widely regarded as the ultimate test in ocean racing.
“For me, the appeal is the sense of freedom I get when I’m out on the ocean by myself. I love the adventure and being out there for extended periods of time and the challenges solo sailing gives me,” Beasley said.
“The solitude doesn’t really bother me – I don’t mind my own company and you just have to push through no matter how sleep-deprived you are.”
He had his first taste of La Solitaire while helping another skipper prepare a boat for the race last year, and though he hasn’t done any solo offshore racing yet, Beasley believes his experience in New Zealand - including the 2020 edition of the Round North Island race – has prepared him for the challenge.
“I’ve done lots of two-handed races and, since the Round North Island, I have continued doing the SSANZ races and I did the Three Kings race on Titanium, two-handed, which we managed to win.
“I’ve also been racing on Zephyrus, a Ker40, and competing against the other 40-footers in Auckland.”
Since his arrival in France, Beasley has done several 24-hour solo training sails aboard Ocean Attitude – not all without incident.
“I managed to run over a lobster pot, which are scattered all around the Brittany coast and are very hard to see at night."
He’s also had to overcome issues with the vessel’s autopilot and roped in local experts to change the navigation software from French to English.
“Thankfully, I managed to get it sorted but the jobs are never-ending and there are still plenty more on the list.”
Beasley is only the second Kiwi to compete in the Figaro 3. Photo / David Paul
He's had to sacrifice a lot just to get into the Figaro fleet, Beasley said.
“I’ve left behind family, friends a dog and a cat and I do miss them but everyone has been really supportive.
“My family, who are based in New Zealand and the UK, do worry about me – especially my mum and dad who are non-sailors.”
He sold Moving Violation, an Elliott 7.9 he sailed around the North Island three years ago, to help fund his French adventure.
“Funding is the biggest obstacle for me. I sold the boat and used all my savings to get Ocean Attitude and I have a couple of small sponsors on board,” Beasley said.
“Some people are doing a season on €150,000 ($260,000) and others, like me, are trying to make it work on €30,000 ($50,000). For next season, if I manage to find €70,000 ($120,000), I think I will be able to do a pretty good season on that budget.”
Competing against French offshore sailors who are revered in their home country is a new experience, Beasley admits.
“The French are passionate about solo offshore sailing. It’s huge over here - probably equal to the publicity that the All Blacks get back home,” he said.
“La Solitaire du Figaro is one of the most prestigious solo races, next to the Route du Rhum and Vendée Globe. It’s hugely popular over here and gets a lot of TV coverage. It’s been going for 54 years and happens every year, so it’s ingrained in the French culture.”
Beasley is only the second Kiwi to compete in the foiling one-design Figaro 3 – with Conrad Colman the other.
Colman rose to prominence after completing the 2016-17 Vendée Globe in 16th place – the first New Zealander to achieve the feat.
“A couple of other Kiwis have done the Figaro back when the Figaro 2s were around but Conrad’s the only one who’s done the Figaro 3. I think he last raced the Figaro in 2019 – the first year they were brought out,” Beasley said.
“I’ve met Conrad a couple of times and had lunch with him last year when I was in France. He’s an inspiration to me.”
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