This edition was particularly difficult for everyone. When we saw Vincent Riou arrive in tears at the finish line...
Vincent had an air problem, really difficult to manage and he didn't have enough to fix. For me too, it could have gone into very difficult mode, except for one or two details. I'm lucky I had back-up solutions or I would have finished like Vincent Riou. It has me sauvé?! It is a matter of few details...
As a skipper, being involved almost 90% of the time is tension. It's physically and morally difficult. We don't have the solution on everything, we can't take everything with us to fix it. There is a trade-off to be made as to what to take.
For my part, the boat being unreliable, having been prepared only in a short time, I had many things on board to repair: a grinder, resin, carbon, composite. Anything can happen and at the slightest failure, you have to take out the kit to repair.
On the Drheam Cup, we broke some equipment. Since then, I had structural problems in the cockpit, but it was too complicated to solve before the start. I was lucky, it held up for the race.
Vincent Riou © Alexis Courcoux #RDR2018
Are you going to make any improvements on your boat after this course??
We're going to work on the issue of comfort. I had equipment that was not adapted. I also have my bowsprit that broke at the end. Honestly, it would be nice to keep doing the Class40 to finish the boat. There is a lack of equipment and reliability. It is also possible to make optimizations in relation to the gauge. I'd like to do that as a program.
Throughout the race, I made a list of improvements that will be made soon. The architect is also working on a 2nd version of the boat, with a new mould. These first two boats are an excellent model for making other boats.
What do you think of the skippers who have started at abri?? Especially in Class40, where there were many of them.
I was against postponing the race. We know it's an Autumn Transat. We can't reinvent the race. You have to be ready. After that, I completely agree on the sheltering. Each one decides according to his or her marine sense. It's good, it helps to empower the sailors. We can't just rely on the race direction. Everyone has made their own decision.
I think it wasn't that strong, but they scared each other during the weather briefing. And finally, at the new beginning, they found themselves with a storm of the same intensity, if not stronger.
I too have advised people to stop. You have to know how to say no, how to give up. I've wanted to stop a race before. On a Figaro, I was sick and I couldn't take it anymore. Luckily for me, she stopped in A Coruña.
It is also necessary to know the difference between what is announced and the real conditions and to use one's experience from the open sea to contrast it with the announced figures. When we saw the files that announced waves of 6/7 m, I called some friends to know the acceptable limit because everything also depends on the length... With Corentin Douguet, who was doing my weather, we had all the problems.
We had crossed waves, sometimes holes. The sea was rough, but long and therefore impressive, but not awkward. We had waves from 7 m to 7.40 m high with 45 knots of wind, but that wasn't a problem.
Alexis Courcoux
Finally, those who waited to (re)leave had a 60 knot storm and it was much more dangereux?!
The numbers are scary and inexperienced, we don't know which sails to use, how we live on board and it's necessarily stressful. In these cases, it is better not to put your life in danger and stay safe.
After that, I think it's very beautiful the people who have left. They showed courage and mentality. But everyone makes these decisions and not everyone has the same sponsors or objectives.
How was it going at bord?? Did you know that he was passait??
We're in a total blackout. I sent messages to find out what was going on and it was my family who kept me informed, who sent me press releases, information. I could see that some boats were turning around, but at the beginning of the race, I only received the Class40 rankings every hour and the weather files. We also have the people from the session once a day.
You can really race without knowing what's going on, even if you have free Internet access, but it costs money.
