Being from the landlocked Czech Republic, one eighth the size of metropolitan France and with a population of just ten million, has never been a drawback for Milan Kolacek. The 47 year old, who learned sailing on his local lakes at home, spread his wings early and has become a very accomplished all round, adaptable sailor as well as a builder of ultra high quality race boats. He has worked for some of the most prestigious yards in the world and raced on top maxis as well as progressing up the typical French pathway from the Mini 650 to Class40 with an aspiration to do the Vendée Globe at some time soon.
After successes with his last boat, including a creditable 8th in the last Transat Café L’Or racing with French co-skipper Pierre Brasseur, Kolacek arrives in Saint-Malo for his first Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe with the newest boat in the Class40 fleet. Finished in July Ocean Call is a new Manuard designed Mach 40.6 which he built with a team at JPS in Brittany.
Milan how do you feel to be here with the newest boat? I feel excited and I look forward to it because it's been my dream for maybe 12 years. I came here in 2014 for the Rue du Rhum I was a visitor, a sailor who was racing a Figaro 2 at the time. That was the first time I saw the Route du Rhum and I followed it since then. And I said to myself ‘well maybe one day I could arrive to be on the start line. At the time I was in the Figaro 2. I did La Solitaire and the Transat AG2R. I had just finished my Mini Transat. I did four years on the Class Mini, on my prototype boat. And then I started to do the Figaro for four years. Then I kind of gave up because it was difficult for me to find the partners for sailing from Czech and to live in France. So I said, okay, I do my business back in Czech. I came back to Class40 last year a little bit secure.
So what did you learn from last year’s two handed race with Pierre?I learned that I can push the boat quite hard. These are really safe boats, but it's quite violent at the same time. And I learned that it's very easy to make mistakes, which cost a lot. There was a moment when I felt like, how do I do when I'm alone, when we sailed last year. So I think what I bring the most is that I understand that I need to be really careful on the boat to not break it. And from Pierre I learned about trimming the sails and the feeling of the boat.
What are you hoping for, what do you expect this time? I have a new boat for sure, it's a good thing. I never thought I would have this opportunity. I built the boat, it's JPS who really built the boat. I was at the finish and I'm doing all the finishing work on the boat with my friends. I think it's a bit of my advantage because it's my job. I know the boat, I know composites because it's my education, it's a job I ‘ve done all my life. So I think I'm quite confident in the boat building and to look after the boat.
You did the Drheam Cup and the 40 Malouine, what do you take from them?I learned that the boat is really fast, simply. I think there is not a really weak point of the boat. It's more me than the boat. You very quickly get to the potential of the boat, it's just the last bit which I'm missing. But it's obvious because you need to sail on the boat more. I have only three months. How many miles have you done? I did the qualif and I sailed almost every second day since I launched the boat. I’ve maybe sailed 3000 nautical miles. And I’ve sailed in 35 knots of wind.
So you're confident in the boat? Yes, I'm confident. The boat is strong, it's safe. I believe I can get in the top 10. I believe if I sail alone, I can do well also.
How did you fund a brand new boat? I pay a small part by myself. And then I have the big part who is one investor, which is a kind of partner also. We have plenty of different partners from the Czech Republic. So now it's the first time. I feel a little bit more confident, so that we can finish the project at least this year or the beginning of next year. I will sail the Café L'Or again next year. and after I will see.
What's the interest like at home in terms of following you?I think this last two years we make a big progress and the Czech people, they start to follow sailing and me. We also have partners who are quite strong in the media. Last year we had the PPM Foundation who helped us and it's a big company. This company owns even some marine business in France. This year we have Windy also, which is a Czech company, windy.com. We have also Marina 21, which is the owner of a few marinas in Greece and Croatia. So we have some marine business in our project.
And the Vendée Globe is on your radar and this race is a good stepping stone? And could you imagine finding funding for an IMOCA at home?I think it's something everyone wants to do. It would be amazing, for sure. And yes there is money to support such a programme. We have Karel Komarek, we have Daniel Kretinsky, we have PPF. It's all huge companies. Windy is owned by a wealthy tech entrepreneur….