A classic course in competitive sailing
Practising sailing since the age of ten and ocean racing for five years, Damien Seguin will be starting his first Vendée Globe on 8th November 2020. Although he was born without a left hand, that has in no way prevented him from climbing the ladder of the sailing world.
"I followed if you could say the classic route, Figaro class and Class40. After several years, I wanted to continue on bigger and faster boats. I joined the IMOCA class in 2018, but on these boats, the aim is still the Vendée Globe. It's been a linear progression, and not necessarily a project I dreamt of when I started ocean racing. It's just something that has imposed itself."
Many discoveries
Two years after his arrival in the IMOCA class, he will be setting off on his first round the world voyage, the highlight of these 60-foot boats.
"It's a very special race in the world of ocean racing. We're used to saying it's the Everest of sailors, it's the hardest and longest race you can take part in. We're going to be facing seas that we're not used to when we sail in France. The duration is also exceptionnelle?! It's a mythical race, in which all the great sailors have participated. I also want to rub shoulders with the history of ocean racing by writing my own personal history."
Like all the newcomers in the race, this will be the first time for Damien Seguin to stay so long on a boat alone.
"It takes a first. I'm expecting a lot of discoveries. There will be some great moments and some complicated ones. I expect to experience an adventure with a capital A, as few sports offer an adventure. I hope to live it well and make other people live it. It's also a sporting competition and I hope to battle with competitors on the water. It's very important for me, I won't be taking part in the Vendée Globe just for the adventure."
Apicil, a boat that knows the way..
He will be at the helm of Apicil, a boat with a special experience since it was used for the shooting of the film "En Solitaire" with François Cluset.
"It's a boat built in 2008 for Marc Thiercelin. She was sold to Gaumont and then bought back by Éric Bellion for the last edition of the Vendée Globe. She was then called Comme Un Seuul Homme. I bought her back in 2018. We worked a lot on it, particularly to improve performance. On board, there's only one thing adapted to my handicap. The winch column has a sleeve with a prosthesis to use my left arm."
His boat has already sailed around the world and that's bound to be a strength for "this tough guy". He has complete confidence in his boat for his first circumnavigation of the world, and in his ability to get out of complicated situations. An experience acquired over the last 15 years, and on his last Route du Rhum 2018, where conditions were complicated.
"It's solid, the performance has been improved, it's up to date, it's reliable. I know her perfectly since I've been sailing her for 3 years. She's a good sports performer and maximizes my chances of making it to the finish."
Although the season has started late for all the sailors, Damien Seguin is well prepared for this start.
"I've been sailing the boat a lot. Solo or with a crew and I'm relatively serene. I've had her since 2018, unlike some projects started this past year. I already had my qualification, and most of the work was done before that."
Adventure, yes, but competition comes first
Apart from participating and finishing, the skipper of Apicil remains a competitor and hopes to be at the forefront of the "regatta off the hydrofoilless boats" And even win in his category.
"We've upgraded the boat a lot. There will be some nice boats that I hope to challenge. In terms of days, Apicil completed the round the world in 99 days, I'm aiming for around 80 days. It's quite an ambitious goal for a daggerboard boat, but he's capable of it and so am I. It's a challenge sympa?!"
Wearing inclusive values
With an atypical background in the sailing world due to his handicap, Damien Seguin carries strong values. "Communication is something important. My handicap questions a lot of people. I want to communicate on values of inclusion and integration. I'm happy to do so. Inside our boats, around the world, we have cameras and satellite phones to share the adventure.
It's an inspiring thing, especially in these times of Covid, containment. I want people to live vicariously, to thrill them. We're going to places the public doesn't know about. We're offshore reporters, that's for sure.
His prognosis for the podium of the Vendée Globe??
Hugo Boss (Alex Thomson), Charal (Jérémie Beyou), and Initiatives-C?ur (Samantha Davies).
