The Route du Rhum is also an opportunity for amateurs to rub shoulders with ocean racing champions. This year, nearly 30 non-professional sailors will be taking the start out of the 91 registered skippers. Among them will be garage owners, veterinarians, journalists, accountants, sports educators, doctorsâ?¦ who have had to manage their budget, their job and their preparation to participate in this 10 ème edition.
Give it all for your passion
Etienne Hochédé, 58 years old, skipper of the Multi50 PiR2 âeuros CCI Fecamps is a garage owner. He took a month's unpaid leave to participate in the Transatlantic race, but focused more on preparing his boat than on sailing I've been overbooked with work, so I haven't sailed much, mostly spent time preparing my 30-year-old boat." Olivier Roussey, skipper of the class40 Obportus âeuros Conseil Régional de Lorraine is a passionate Lorraine, accountant at the head of a firm of 300 people. "Passion knows no boundaries and it certainly doesn't stop at the blue line of the Vosges."
Hervé de Carlan, general practitioner and skipper of the Multi50 Delirium will start on the only catamaran in the race. This habitué of long working days " to afford his dream" should be back to resume his practice on December 2nd. Erik Nigon, skipper of the Multi50 Towards a World Without AIDS is a technical director at Axa and will continue to work until the big start. He chose to ride his bike instead of the subway to train, asked his group of friends to help him prepare his boat and gave a great concert in the Village of Saint-Malo this weekend with his band Take a Breath.
Realize your dream and hope to win
Jean-Yves Chatelain is 60 years old and is about to participate in his 3rd edition of the Route du Rhum, on his improved cruising boat, an RM 13.50 named Destination Calais (Rhum Class). This physical education teacher would like to be among the top 10 " In the last edition, I had to abandon due to electrical problems, but I noticed that my boat was working well. So, this year, secretly, I hope to make the top ten. I'm going to give it my all."
Fabrice Amedeo, a journalist by profession, is the skipper of the Class40 SNCF-Géodis-Newrest. He would like to finish among the top 15, even if he only admits it half-heartedly " My goal is to get to the other side, to tell a good story and if possible to do better than four years ago. It would be a great success, I'm going to hurt myself and give 200% ."
For all these passionate people, it is another part of their life that will be played out during this 10th edition of the Route du Rhum. Contrary to those who are used to the race, they secretly dream of victory, hoping to reach a good position but not daring to admit it. Outside of their daily lives, they will be able to realize their dreams and allow the public to identify with each of them. The Route du Rhum is above all a beautiful human story.
