courtesey of espritdesgazelles

It is time for this year’s Aicha des Rallye Gazelles de Maroc and the unique rally (it’s the only all women’s off road rally anywhere) has a couple of unique competitors: two blokes!

In the 20 years of the rally, international teams of women have descended upon Morocco for the 9-day course that is more about technical navigation than about speed. This time, in an unprecedented decision, rally organizers agreed to allow David Casteau and Eric Loizeau to participate, although they will not be allowed to place.

Team 199 is an accomplish off road duo with Casteau having 7 Dakars under his belt plus multiple rally trophies and Loizeau being the navigator for Eric Taberly, winners of several transats and Grand Prix. Even with all of this experience, the prologue started off a bit rough when the two immediately got lost but they recovered and ended the day’s event 6.86 kilmeters over the ideal route of 39.6 kilometers.

The event disallows all GPS and the typically all female teams use only compasses, French maps of the rugged terrain from the 1950′s, rulers, Scotch tape and pencils to find their way through 9 grueling days of challenges that are about reaching points in the shortest number of meters, not about speed.

“I think that it is a shame that navigators have become so dependent on GPS and electronics and are losing their traditional navigation skills. To be a good navigator you need to be smart, intelligent… it is not necessarily a skill exclusive to men!” ~Eric Loizeau at the start of the Prologue

The men will have some steep competition form the competition this year. Yesterday’s prologue leader only went 530 meters beyond the ideal route! About 70 percent participating this year are novices and returning with a plan this year is Team Miller Fisher, the only US team, but a team with a plan. The US Gazelles are driver Emily Miller, the first woman to win the Vegas to Iron Man race, navigator Wendy Fisher and a Hummer H3.

I will be covering this event live, albeit from my casita in Long Beach, California (not from Morocco as had been hoped) so expect more from me on the rally and Team Miller Fisher in the next couple of weeks. In the meantime, here are some links to get you into this fun event that has a humanitarian’s heart!

• Team Miller Fisher on Facebook
• Team Miller Fisher on Twitter
• Read about Rallye des Aicha Gazelles in French