Quai Paul Vatine, Le Havre, 7:30 am, the technical team of Imoca La Mie Câline-Artisans Artipôle is already on board. JC, the boat captain and Alex are busy with the final preparations. Arnaud and Xavier are not on board yet. The departure is scheduled for 8:57 am, just after Louis Burton and just before Thomas Ruyant who are framing La Mie Câline-Artipôle. « The days of departure are always a highlight "confided a friend of the team to me, who came to greet them before they set out to attack the Atlantic.
8:00 am - Xavier arrives on the platform, relaxed, but already concentrated, and especially in full reflection about the tactics. "The weather is very clear, but it looks very complicated. We're going to have to choose between a lot of manoeuvres or a less direct route . "With his foot barely on the boat, he sat at the chart table to turn the routing. It will hardly come out until the start.
8:30 am - arrival of the semi-rigid escort, on which a cameraman, a photographer and Antony, faithful among Arnaud's faithful friends and supporters, have settled. Arnaud, who has just arrived, smiling and relaxed as usual. « the departure is a bit like the day you graduate, you're stressed, but glad it's finally there "The first IMOCAs are passing in front of us. All the futuristic machines launched recently are a few metres away and the sailors greet each other. Nice atmosphere.
The sound system (installed with the speaker on a semi-rigid) is getting closer as the 29 IMOCAs take off, the first to leave the port of this 14th edition of the double transatlantic race. With the Class40 and Multi 50, no less than 59 boats will start at 13:15 precisely.
8:53 am - here we are, Louis Burton has cast off, it's time to go. The engine has been running for a few minutes now, the crew are ready to cast off. But Arnaud is not on board! « Oh, sorry I went back to the truck to get my jacket, I thought I lost it. But it's all right, we're supposed to leave at 57 ?» The boss' relaxed attitude makes everyone smile on board as well as on the dock. Everything is fine, at the scheduled time we leave the pontoon to the applause of the small crowd gathered to admire the sailors. The sky is grey, but at least it's not raining. So we follow the IMOCA train that is slowly heading out to sea. A few Le Havre people are there to come and see them pass by as closely as possible on the way. Arnaud:" it's nice, it gives energy, and then they got up early so it's nice to say hello to them »
9:45 am - we went out. « We send the mainsail ! "After a few minutes of effort by the technical team to send, the boat shifts to starboard tack and we walk at 9 knots. The foils are starting to whistle. And to think that the boat isn't even adjusted, and there's no headsail! I feel like I'm on a big windsurfing board, ultra stiff, hyper-reactive, and hitting the big holes. We meet Alex Thompson, we sail side by side with Boris Herman, we greet Yannick Bestaven. For a moment, I almost think I'm one of them! But no, let's get back to earth, we're talking about the best of ocean racing.
10:45 am - that's it, Xavier, who is still at the chart table, has a plan. It's a hard discussion with Arnaud, but they agree. « The nav is simple between us, we put everything on the table and we decide... no headache. "It almost seems as if they have always sailed together, as they have such an impression of complicity and ease in manoeuvres.
11:30 am - It's time to seal the engine. Alex dives upside down into the hold, shoots, takes a picture and sends it to the organization. A few minutes later, the answer falls to "impeccable". From that moment on, we can disembark. Beforehand, Arnaud asked that the large genoa be installed on the deck in case they needed it in the first hours of the race. Alex and JC get together, helped by the halyard of the J2 to get the sail out of the hold. It will take them a good 10 minutes just to get it out, count at least twice as much to finish installing it. Alex:" can you imagine when he's alone? This is insane! ». "Well, yes, during the race it takes half an hour for a sail change. And this is a double one." arnaud replied. We better understand Xavier's hesitations!
12:15pm - that's it - the whole fleet is on the water to turn around the Fleming, the committee boat. It's a lot of people, especially when you see the speed at which everyone moves. Vigilance is at its highest. The VHF spits out the instructions for the start: position of the buoy, time check... I feel that the tension is slowly rising on board. Clearly, Xavier and Arnaud are in their race.
12:45 - we disembark. Last hugs, last recommendations and we jump into the semi-rigid. Now they are alone with an ocean in front of their bow. We're going to have to cross it, in a race, with a comfort on board close to zero, in a hellish noise. Frankly, it's amazing for Sunday sailors like me.
13h15 - "B we leave »
