Can you introduce us to your boat? Why this one? Why this one?
The Corum project was born at the end of 2017. I had to find a boat to do the Route du Rhum 2018. There were no competitive boats on the market. I wanted a boat that could win. I had followed the last Class40 races of the last few years and this boat was competitive. It is designed by Sam Manuard and manufactured at JPS Production. He is an architect and a serious site. We started on that. We haven't had any problems with the boat since it was launched and that's a good thing.
The cockpit is designed to be simple. I have everything at my fingertips. I have construction cleats. I had the experience of it on my old boat and I was happy with it.
Inside, the only difference with the others is that I can move the entire chart table. I'm wedged in my footstool and can do my nav'. I can send the information back to the top screen which is visible from the cockpit.
Since you got your boat back, have you brought your own personal touch?
We each have our own way of manoeuvring, adjusting the mast, adjusting the rudders. There are choices to be made about electronics and navigation systems. For example, we have one of the boats with the most quests.
We test sails that are not quite like the others, with shapes and a set of sails that are not standard. For example, there are a lot of boats that have code 0, I have a gennak'. I have a little less upwind in light airs, and a little more upwind in reaching.
Is the boat at 100% of its potential?
We did about 5000 miles with the boat. He went around the British Isles, around Ireland, I went to the Drheam Cup, the Azimuth Challenge. We sailed a lot with the boat, I know it really well. We haven't had any problems so far. We tried to adjust as precisely as possible and improve the matossing inside.
We worked a lot on the boat's performance, with feedback from the nav' and analyses of the boat's performance to create the polar fleeces.
What is the objective for the Route du rhum?
The objective is to win and have a good race.
Can you tell us about one of the most memorable moments in the Route du Rhum?
The first thing that comes to mind is more like childhood memories. This is the first race I've ever been in. That's probably what developed my passion for ocean racing.
On my first participation, I have nice memories with Jean Galfione. I sailed with his boat and I manage to finish second in the Class40. Crossing the Atlantic alone is not insignificant. It was great to make such a beautiful place.
Could you describe the Route du Rhum in a few words?
"The Solitary Atlantic"
On this edition what will be the difficulty to overcome? Whether in terms of strategy, weather or personally?
The difficulty will be the number of boats in our class. As a result, it can spread in all directions and it will be hard to control them all. We will have to make the right choices of what we think is best in terms of route and control of other boats.
There will also be the first depressions that will happen. It'll be a complicated time to go through.
What is the programme after this Route du Rhum?
The boat is for sale. The project was to do the Route du Rhum with it, then I move on to something else.
I've been dreaming of doing a Vendée Globe for 10 years..
