Alain Colas (born 1943 in Clamecy-1978)

He began his studies at the Faculty of Letters in Dijon, and continued in Paris where he studied English. In 1965, he applied to teach at the University of Sydney, but was rejected. He nevertheless decided to carry on with his travel plans, managed to be hired by the Factulty of Letters and discovered the world of sailing in New Zealand. He became a crew member on a New Zealand boat and, during a race, met the winner Eric Tabarly. He then sailed with him in many competitions and acquired the Pen Duick IV from him. Winner of the English Transat in 1972, his maritime exploits ended with his disappearance at sea in December 1978.