Niamey-Bamako Rally

In the 1980s, the sense of adventure and desire for extreme sensations are very popular. Thierry Sabine, who knows sub-Saharan Africa so well, sees the Niger river, which he has often come up against following the phenomenal success of his Paris-Dakar Rally, as a new stage for a particularly challenging sports event.  

For centuries, the majestic Niger has remained a geographical enigma for explorers. Nearly 4,200km long, its abundant waters flow from the mountains of Guinea and Sierra Leone all the way through to its Delta in Nigeria, before running into the Atlantic in the Port Harcourt region. It is also the river that flows past the legendary Timbuktu. At the gateway to the desert, its course is hemmed in by a green strip that is just a few dozen meters wide separating it from the infertile expanses. 

The new challenge is to travel nearly 2,000km, setting out from Niamey, Niger’s capital, to cross part of Mali and reach its capital, Bamako. Around 40 competitors take up the invitation, with a mix of enthusiasm and apprehension. 

Like the Paris-Dakar, this rally is open specifically to amateurs, while also immediately attracting a handful of professionals. Its rules are simple, with boats under 6 meters, split into three classes, two for flexible or hard-bottom inflatables and the other reserved for rigid hulls. In this last class, Jeanneau decides to take on this adventure, with major resources deployed. The organizers have warned the candidates that this is anything but a relaxing cruise for tourists in an enchanting setting. Beneath its majestic appearance, the Niger conceals endless pitfalls in turbulent waters, quick sections, hazardous submerged rocks, swampy meanders and treacherous sandbanks. To compete against a small squadron of Zodiac MkIIs and Artagnans, the builder from Les Herbiers creates five dedicated 5.10m Cap Camarat hulls made out of Kevlar, known as the “Niger” model. The final third of their V-shaped hull’s stern section is redesigned to reduce their draft. A partial canvas decking protects the cockpit, which is self-bailing, and the central hold contains flexible tanks with 250 liters of fuel. The two-person crew have a raised helm station and enough space on board to store their packs, water supplies, tools and spare parts. As a safety measure, the propulsion system is split into four 140hp outboard units from different brands and a single more experimental BMW 130hp inboard engine with a turbine. Gérard d’Aboville chooses this version straightaway to set off in the rally with one of his brothers. This is far from uncharted territory for them, as all the siblings took part in the Paris-Dakar on motorbikes three years earlier. Two all-terrain vehicles are loaded with spare parts, blades and drives to follow the five boats entrusted to highly experienced pilots, including an all-women crew, as well as specialized journalists. 

With the Cap Camarat 510 “Niger” units winning five stages, their builder has no regrets over its major commitment to this pioneering African adventure, rewarded with the victory in the general class for Aboville’s crew and four boats in the first seven to reach Bamako. In addition to the positive impacts on its reputation and its commercial benefits, this rally was an opportunity for Jeanneau to fine-tune its capabilities for managing a competition team, an experience that will serve it well a few years later on the circuits for solo outboard catamarans with the international inshore championships.