Cancelled in 2020 due to a health crisis, the double-handed Concarneau - Saint-Barthélemy transatlantic race, previously known as the Transat AG2R, returns in May 2021 . They will be 34 sailors (3 women!) to take the start of the race, including 15 rookies, including the 3 sailors, Elodie Bonafous (Bretagne - CMB Océane), Estelle Greck (RLC Sailing) and Violette Dorange (Devenir). The latter will be the youngest of the race.
A first transatlantic crossing for the Figaro 3
Although some of them are regulars in the race - 9 participations for Yannig Livory (Interaction), 7 for Éric Péron (L'Égoïste) - it will nevertheless be the first time that the Figaro Bénéteau 3s - equipped with foils - will cross the Atlantic.
"Like all ocean races, we are on an adventure. We are often moved by the emotions that the sailors can bring. But the little plus of the Figaro Bénéteau class is that there is a lot of accounting. There are some extremely sharp sailors, who form the breeding ground for French ocean racing sailors. I think we can congratulate all the sailors for the compatibility they bring to the circuit explains Éric Péron, treasurer of the class, but also participant in the race.
Testimonials
"I chose Corentin Douguet first of all because it's a double-handed race. Last year, on the Figaro circuit, we had a good feeling, a nice modjo. It's the ideal way to get there. He is an experienced skipper on the circuit and I need to learn. He's the ideal partner. And then we get along well outside. We're getting to know each other. We sailed quite a bit this winter. I'm happy to do this race with him" explains Tanguy Le Turquais.
After two 5th places in 2016 and 2018, Alexis Loison returns for his last transatlantic race under the colors of Normandy. Indeed, he will be in duo with his successor, Guillaume Pirouelle, who will take over the boat at the end of the Solitaire du Figaro.
"I'm very happy to be back on this event again. We make a good duo. We are complementary. Since he was selected by the Normandy Region, we have trained a lot, we have sailed a lot.
Guillaume brings a fresh perspective, which allows me to question myself. I am convinced that he will be a good successor explains Alexis Loison.
After a stint on the Mini circuit and a place as first rookie on the Solo Maitre Coq (first race of the year in Figaro), Estelle Greck (RLC Sailing) will start with Corentin Horeau.
"After the Sardinha Cup, we will prepare the boat well. It's a good preparation for the Transat. I love the transatlantic format anyway! Last year we had already planned to be at the start. So it was logical to continue this year"
Erwan Le Draoulec (Skipper Macif), winner of the Mini Transat in 2017, will be in a duo with Pierre Quiroga (Skipper Macif), winner of the great Solo Maître Coq 2021 race.
"It's a great opportunity to sail with someone like Pierre, who has a high level in Figaro. I will learn a lot from him. We are close in age and we are great buddies. We've done a lot of work in our corner, but also shared a lot."
"It's reassuring for me and Erwan. He was ahead of me on the short courses of the Solo Maitre Coq 2021. We had a great start to the season as Skipper Macif. We're going to sail together under pressure, but we would have chosen each other without that, because we're friends in life. We've worked a lot together, each on our own boat, but also collectively adds Pierre Quiroga.
The crews
So 17 duos will participate in the Concarneau - Saint-Barthélemy double-handed transatlantic race. The skippers are impatient to take the start of this race.
- Eric Péron - Miguel Danet (L'Egoiste)
- Gildas Mahé - Tom Dolan (Breizh Cola)
- Elodie Bonafous - Corentin Horeau (Bretagne CMB Océane)
- Tom Laperche - Loïs Berrehar (Bretagne - CMB Performance)
- Pep Costa - Will Harris (Cybele Vacances - Team Play to B)
- Violette Dorange - Alan Roberts (Becoming)
- Jérôme Samuel - Nicolas Salet (Erisma - Sodes Group - Tara Ocean Foundation)
- Martin Le Pape - Yann Eliès (Gardons la Vue)
- Fabien Delahaye - Anthony Marchand (Gilbert Group)
- Pierre Leboucher - Thomas Rouxel (Guyot Environnement)
- Yannick Livory - Erwan Livory (Interaction)
- Nicolas Bertho - Romual Poirat (Kriss Laure)
- Tanguy Le Turquais - Corentin Douguet (Queguiner - Inoveo)
- Alexis Loison - Guillaume Pirouelle (Normandy Region)
- Estelle Greck - Laurent Givry (RLC Sailing)
- Pierre Quiroga - Erwan Le Draoulec (skipper Macif)
- Nils Palmieri - Julien Villon (TeamWork)
