Can you tell us about your "Hope for Coffee" journey?
The projects espoirs avec un jeune exist in Saint-Malo since 2014, they have been created to the Route du Rhum . I'd been following this at first, but I was too young to participate. Today I'm 20 years old, I participated last spring in this selection for the Jacques Vabre 2017. It started in February, there were 2 or 3 selection tests and I came out the winner in May. I stayed at school until June (I'm in engineering school at the Université Technologique de Compiègne). From mid-July, I joined the team in Saint Malo to finish building this boat and prepare it between August and October.
Why did you decide to go into the 40' class?
It's a logical continuation of everything I've done. I've done a lot of Inshore and at the same time, I've always done offshore. I'm originally from Trinité sur Mer. I've sailed on several big boats, some of which are here, Multi 50 or 40' trimarans. I've been dreaming about it since I was very young. I've been thinking about ocean racing for several years now. A selection to do a Jacques Vabre on a 40' Class 40' was very interesting. It's a fleet where there's a lot to learn. It's a very homogenous fleet, the densest with 16 boats. In terms of contact and confrontation, it's going to be interesting. But before qualifying, I'd never done a Class 40' before. Just a few convoyings, but that's all.
It's the last class 40' launched, did you get a chance to work on it?
I've prepared the boat for the Transat Jacques Vabre . The boat is number 152, the last one launched. The construction was managed by Arthur Hubert of the BG Race shipyard. I was able to contribute 2 or 3 ideas on the end, during the preparation, but I didn't have the opportunity to participate in the design. It's a Verdier plan, a TIZh 40. It's the 3 e of a series of 3 boats that have been upgraded each time. It's definitely going in the direction of performance. We've got a great boat for this race.
What is the objective of your race?
First learn. For me it's all new, it's a first big ocean race that will last a long time. The Jacques Vabre is a great race and there's a lot to learn about the weather, strategy and even about yourself in terms of the demands and pace you'll have to be able to impose yourself on the race. For the moment I don't have too many points of reference, it's going to be interesting to gauge ourselves on that. It's going to be intense.
How is your life aboard organised with your crewman Christophe?
We haven't known each other very long. The only big sailing we've done is the 1000 mile qualifier to enter the race. Between us, things are going well on a human level, so it's very positive. After that, in terms of the distribution of tasks, nothing has been defined. The manoeuvres are going to be carried out as much as possible in double-handed mode. As for the weather, we'll both be discussing it, but it's often me who will have the last word as skipper.
How did you meet your co-skipper?
Christophe is the owner of the boat, with 2 other co-owners. It has been decided that Christophe will do the Transat Jacques Vabre with a young person who is grafting. I'm the one who was selected.
After this race you have something built behind it?
So far there's nothing very well defined. My school semester will resume in February. I'm also looking forward to going back to school because my engineering background is interesting. I love it and it's hyper complementary with sailing and the technical choice. Then there's the Route du Rhum in a year's time. It will be one of the four youngsters selected by the team in Saint Malo who will set off. It might be me, but there are three other competitors. A Route du Rhum certainly makes me dream too. You have to take the various opportunities, but for the moment I'm not necessarily thinking of making a career out of it. Even if there are some great races that make me dream and that I want to do. Like the Solitaire du Figaro. And if I have good opportunities on engineering projects, it will also be super exhilarating, so I'm not closing any doors.
