Mini Atlantique: “Exhausted, but so happy!” – Carla Hénon-Steck at the finish line

Her main goal is the Mini-Transat 2027. On her way there, Carla Hénon-Steck has now faced her first tough test. In the prototype classification of the Mini Atlantiques The 18-year-old, who lives in Kiel, has completed the first of the two legs of the race from Les Sables-d’Olonne to Horta and back. The young helmswoman crossed the finish line in seventh place. However, she had missed the time limit by one day; it had already expired at 10.05 pm on 2 August.

Mini Transatlantique: many challenges for Carla Hénon-Steck

Carla Hénon-Steck battled it out in the Mini Atlantique for more than twelve days. A good three days behind sixth-placed Riccardo Gnocchi and four days behind winner Julien Letisiier (“Branchet”), she crossed the finish line in seventh place, bringing up the rear of the fleet. Despite missing the time limit, she persevered, unlike the eight competitors in total – comprising four Proto-class and four production-class boats – who did not complete the race. Click here for the tracker and the target times. The time limit is given as the target time for the German skier. In fact, she did not cross the finish line until the following night.

The race was won by the a German-French woman living in Kiel She was hit with a whole barrage of challenges. Her race was characterised by technical problems and dealing with them. As early as the second day, she had to contend with the failure of the antenna system and the autopilot. ​“From the second day onwards, my wind sensor went haywire and was giving me completely bizarre readings. On top of that, my autopilot kept cutting out – I had absolutely no confidence in it,” reported the Mini class newcomer at the end of the first part of her Atlantic trial.

In this situation, she decided not to use the spinnaker on her Manuard Proto, which, having been built in 2005, is older than she is. “I didn’t feel confident enough to do that,” she said after the race. However, the fact that she arrived in Horta in last place by a considerable margin out of the entire field of Proto and production boats did not deter the young woman, who grew up speaking two languages, from her course.

Carla Hénon-Steck: Lost contact with the fleet, but never gave up

As the youngest competitor in the entire Mini-Atlantique fleet, she was the only female helmswoman in the Protodivision to cross the finish line – albeit outside the time limit – following the withdrawals of co-favourite Caroline Boule (“Nicomatic – Petit Bateau”) and Hélène Sohier (“Rura Asso”), she was the only female skipper in the Proto division to cross the finish line, albeit outside the time limit.

"It’s good to be here. I’d really had enough!” Carla Hénon-Steck

Carla Hénon-Steck was quick to explain the mixed reaction to her finish: “The last few hours went a bit better, but yesterday I messed it all up. I’m exhausted, but so glad to be back at the jetty.” The consequences were harsh. After a promising start to her first Atlantic XL race, the young sailor lost touch with the rest of the fleet.

She herself said: “I’d completely lost contact with the fleet.” The ocean sailor admitted candidly that the thought of giving up had often crossed her mind. “I realised quite quickly that I was a long way behind. But I wanted to carry on. I saw other Protos dropping out, and I realised that, as the only woman in the Proto classification, I was still in the race. That really motivated me to keep going.”

Mini Atlantique: the return leg gets underway on 5 August

​And this thought, too, drove Carla Hénon-Steck on: “If I’d given up in Spain, I’m sure I would have been incredibly annoyed with myself, because these weren’t insurmountable setbacks. I’d rather finish well down the field than give up!” Nor would she be the unshakeable and tenacious Mini sailor she is today had she not already set her sights on the return leg upon arriving in Horta in the Azores.

Carla Hénon-Steck certainly had every reason to feel this way, as her late arrival left her with less than 36 hours until the start of the return leg. So it was a relief that she was met with a wave of support from the Mini family. “Several solo sailors offered to help and told me I should get some sleep first. Some radioed me as early as twelve nautical miles from the finish line to ask if there was anything I needed that they could sort out for me. They’ve all been there for days, and most of them have their boats ready. Many were there during the night as well, to welcome me,” said Carla Hénon-Steck enthusiastically.

Her plans ahead of the next start on 5 August at 2 pm off Horta, for the second half of the Mini Atlantique: “My aim now is to rest, then sort out the boat and put in a much better performance in the second leg!” The skipper was pleased with her ageing Proto: “The boat’s got what it takes. I haven’t quite got the hang of it yet – there’s a lot to learn. I’m also looking forward to winter training so I can keep improving.”

Falling in love with the Atlantic all over again on the Mini Atlantique

She’s certainly taking away a good feeling from the first long Atlantic race of her young career: “I crossed the Atlantic in 2022/2023 on the ‘Thor Heyerdahl’. I didn’t realise how much I’d missed the long swells, the blue Atlantic and the starry sky. It was absolutely lovely!”

Alongside Carla Hénon-Steck, Tom Wehde will also be kicking off the second half of the Mini Atlantique on Wednesday in the production-class mini “Osterrath”. After finishing ninth Wehde is aiming for a place in the top ten of the overall standings.