What is your first memory at mer??
My first memory? Probably when I was learning to swim when I was 4/5 years old at Île aux Moines in the Gulf of Morbihan. We were swimming among the algae, which probably explains why I quickly became more comfortable on the water than in the water.
Which boat left you the best souvenir??
I have memories with all my boats. What interests me most is how you can operate a boat. At first, it's always nice to discover a new medium, but what's most exciting is to be able to master it and know all its facets.
Also, I would say that Spindrift 2 is now the one I know best and certainly the one that left me with the most memories, such as during the 2014 Route du Rhum or the Route de la Découverte in 2013 and of course around the world in 2015-2016.
What is your greatest success with marin??
To have crossed the Atlantic alone aboard Spindrift 2 during the 2014 Route du Rhum and to have finished second. Spindrift 2 is an extraordinary boat originally designed to be crewed and not solo. Rallying Pointe-À-Pitre from Saint-Malo on such a multihull was a fantastic challenge.
On a daily basis, what is your practice of plaisance??
It is unfortunately too rare, but as soon as I can I can I can enjoy all the sports of sliding (kite, foil moth, paddle...). I adapt myself according to the weather and the supports. And I never refuse a little cheetah sailing in the Gulf.
If you hadn't been a skipper, what would you have fait??
I would have necessarily done a job related to the sea, because it is it that animates me long before the boat. I have a particular interest in knowledge of the marine world and its protection. I could also have been a meteorologist, an oceanographer or an ocean science researcher.
Portrait
After a sport-study (Optimist, 420) Yann Guichard embarked on Olympic preparation in Tornado and finished 4th at the Sydney Olympic Games. A multihull enthusiast, he is also embarking on a career in ocean racing as a helmsman and crew member in 60 feet (La Trinitaine, Gitana 11) and maxi (Orange II, Groupama 3)
He took part in the 2011 Route du Rhum on Gitana 11 - of which he is the skipper - before founding the Spindrift Racing team with Dona Bertarelli. He is once again participating in the 2014 Route du Rhum on Spindrift 2 - 2nd place in the Ultimate - and is working in parallel on a crewed round the world race project. He made a first attempt in 2014-2015 with a time of 47 days 10 hours 59 minutes and 02 seconds (3rd best travel time).
Chris Schmid/Spindrift racing
In parallel, he participates in the World Match Racing Tour and climbs to third place on the podium of the 2017 World Match Racing Championship. After another unsuccessful attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy, Yann Guichard and his crew are preparing for a new test in 2018. Chrono at battre?? 40 days and 23 hours. (Francis Joyon and his men on Idec Sport).
