Childhood memories
For the majority of the participants in the Route du Rhum, it is above all a personal memory that marks them: a special support for a skipper, a successful performance, a successful navigation, etc.
And among these personal memories, we find the start of the race when they were only children. Like Jeremie Beyou, who explains" My first memories go back to my childhood, when we saw the fleet passing off Morlaix Bay." or Manuel Cousin "Having family in Saint-Malo, I have lived through almost all the departures. The step - wise step of the locks of sailing legends such as Eric Tabarly, Philippe Poupon and others - remains a very strong memory. I watched it with my eyes full of stars, this show fuelled my desire to do this mythical race."
Yann Eliès, UCAR St-Michel ©Arnaud Pilpré #RDR2018
"The Route du Rhum is like a kid's memories: we used to go to see the boats passing by with my father off Bréhat, it was a kind of closed door, there were no more spectator boats, we were almost the last ones the guys saw, then we would go home at night. And the next morning, when we woke up, we heard the first abandonments, the first boats down..." adds Yann Eliès.
Departures as a preparer
What could be more magical than to watch a mythical race start as préparateur?? Alongside the skipper and the whole team, we experience the race from the inside and share the emotions of the navigator we are accompanying.
This was the case with Boris Hermann, for whom rum became a real passion after his campaign alongside Roland Jourdain "I experienced the start in 2010, I worked in Roland Jourdain's team. I was on the zodiac next door when he left, it was a very moving moment for me, which made me want to take up this personal challenge. When I saw Bilou scream, full of energy, and attack, I thought it was a magnificent race, with a very energetic atmosphere before the start in Saint-Malo, I have since developed a real passion for the Route du Rhum."
Boris Hermann, Malizia II Yacht Club de Monaco © Arnaud Pilpré #RDR2018
This was also the case for Samantha Davies "When I was a little girl, I had stuck pictures of Florence Arthaud's arrival on the wall of my room. These pictures made me dream. Later, in 1998, I joined Ellen MacArthur's team to help her prepare the Rum. I was amazed and thought that solo ocean racing might be for me. And his victory was a demonstration that women had every chance. A year later, I bought a Mini, it was parti?!"
"My first personal memory is when I was Laurent Bourgnon's trainer in 1994. The emotion he shares with us when he wins is necessarily foundational, because I tell myself when I see him that one day, I too, I want to experience this" concludes Thomas Coville.
The first participations
A first participation in a race never leaves any trace. For some, he had been waiting for their participation in the mythical transatlantic race for years. And one day, they were able to get started, either on their own or with a sponsor.
"My fondest memory dates back to my first participation in 2010, in the Class40. The project had been set up very quickly, with the support of everyone around me, everyone was involved without expecting anything in return, the enthusiasm was crazy. I didn't know what I was going to experience, it was my first transatlantic race, my first solo race, I had met my sponsor Bureau Vallée a month before the start... and at the finish, I experienced a magic race" explains Louis Burton.
"I have a very strong memory of my first one, four years ago: the emotion felt when I entered the basin afloat, the passage of Cape Fréhel, a unique moment for a sailor because nowhere else are there so many spectators to watch us at sea. Then the tour of Guadeloupe, extremely demanding physically and mentally, but at the same time magical with an incredible light... it's really a very special race" adds Stéphane Le Diraison.
