Speed, strategy, conviviality
For 5 days, 14 IMOCA boats (and therefore logically 28 skippers) will battle for victory in the Defi Azimut. After the summer refit - from which most of the 60-foot monohulls have benefited - it is time to resume the competition. Full throttle for the runs on Wednesday, September 15, then strategy for the 48 hours on Thursday, September 16, for a 540-mile course across the Bay of Biscay, and conviviality and speed for the Tour de l'île de Groix on Sunday, September 19. The record to beat is 1h 8 minutes and 10 seconds, still held by PRB since 2015.
For the first time, it will be possible to follow the race from a distance via the "Lives" to be followed on the website of the race.
Shock duos often well-practiced
If the winner of the 2020 edition is absent from the race; Charal hit a UFO on the way back from the Fastnet, the majority of the participants are well known actors of the IMOCA class. It will also be an opportunity to discover one of the very first boats launched since the Vendée Globe 2020/2021, 11th Hour Racing 2, a Verdier design conceived for the crewed race The Ocean Race 2022/2023. It will be sailed by the American-French duo Charlie Enright and Pascal Bidégorry, two great figures in ocean racing, both of whom are used to racing around the world.
Charlie Dalin is also expected to join Paul Meilhat on Apivia, who has already won the Fastnet, and Thomas Ruyant who is building a new IMOCA - in duo with Morgan Lagravière on LinkedOut. The two sailors had distinguished themselves by their perseverance in the Vendée Globe, and in particular Charlie Dalin was the first to cross the line.
The latter will keep its old foils from before the Vendée Globe, which are longer and more powerful.
It's true that upwind and reaching should be an advantage," explains Paul Meilhat, co-skipper. But the interest of the Azimuth Challenge and especially of the 48 Hours, is that the course is chosen at the last moment according to the weather, which guarantees a good variety of points of sail. So everyone can have their favorite tack and the game will be open. We're not afraid of any particular boat, but especially the sailors as the field is so exceptional!" explains Paul Meilhat.
Louis Burton will be at the helm of his Bureau Vallée (ex l'Occitane en Provence) bought after the Vendée Globe and accompanied by Davy Beaudart, a crew member on many crewed races.
"The men to beat are first of all those who have been steering their boat for a long time and have it on the fingertips. The Azimuth Challenge is a great opportunity for us to situate ourselves and validate all the preparation we did this summer explains Louis Burton. The skipper will also take advantage of this opportunity to validate his qualification for the Transat Jacques Vabre.
Many talented duos are also expected to be on the starting line.
Regulars and newcomers
Arkéa Paprec will be on board with a well-known duo - skipper Sébastien Simon and Yann Eliès. The two men are used to racing together, whether on the Azimuth Challenge or on the Transat Jacques Vabre. The latter, which will start in November, will be the skipper's last race under Arkéa's colors. Also on board will be Nicolas Troussel (who had to retire from the 2020/2021 Vendée Globe) and Sébastien Josse, a talented sailor, Damien Seguin, author of an incredible round-the-world race on his daggerboard boat, and Benjamin Dutreux, who was also a revelation in the last Vendée Globe. The duo is one of the great favorites of the daggerboard boats.
Romain Attanasio (Fortinet-Best Western) will finally be able to confront the foilers since the purchase of the ex-Malizia and will be accompanied by Sebastien Marsset. The women will not be outdone either as Sam Davies in a duo with Nicolas Lunven and Isabelle Joschke with Alain Gautier (MACSF) are also expected to take part in the race. The two women sailors had to abandon their solo round the world race with regret, but took to the sea again full of courage and self-sacrifice after repairs to come full circle!
Two newcomers will be watching, the mixed Anglo-Swiss duo Simon Fisher/Justine Mettraux. They will be at the helm of the first 11th Hour Racing, ex-Hugo Boss of 2016.
In the dinghy category, Apicil will be competing with Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline - Artisans Artipôle) who will be taking Rodolphe Sepho on board to pass on his experience. If we could discover the Guadeloupean sailor in Class40, it is in IMOCA that he will participate in the Route du Rhum 2022.
Clément Giraud will be accompanied by Erik Nigon, who lent him his boat for the last Vendée Globe, a 2008 Farr design in the colors of Compagnie du Lit-Jiliti. Finally, Alexia Barrier, the most Mediterranean of the sailors, will be accompanied by Manuel Cousin, who has just participated in his first Vendée Globe and finished in 23rd position.
