Sébastien Simon discovered sailing at a young age with his family. After several competitions in Olympic support, he finally turned to ocean racing and joined the Figaro circuit. For 5 years, he climbs the ladder by winning several competitions, until the Solitaire du Figaro in 2018. He then joined the IMOCA circuit and had a new generation IMOCA built, a Juan Kouyoumdjian design in the colors of Arkéa-Paprec. He took part in his first Vendée Globe in 2020 but had to abandon off the Cape of Good Hope after a collision with a UFO. He hopes to take part again in 2024.
With less than a month to go, what is your state of mind?
The boat is ready. We have been training a lot with Yann these last months. We did a lot of operations with the partners this summer. We sailed more than 40 days with them. We also had the opportunity to train in a lot of conditions. The two races before the Jacques Vabre (Editor's note: Rolex Fastnet and the Azimuth Challenge) went well even if we did not finish the races in the lead.
What are your ambitions for this Transat Jacques Vabre? Knowing that it is your last race under the colors of Arkéa Paprec?
I'm looking forward to it. Today, I think we can aim for a podium, even if the first place looks difficult to take. It's a very long race, there are a lot of opportunities and a lot of things will happen. I am quite optimistic and open.
What did the last project consist of? What were the optimizations?
We really didn't do much. We put her back in the same condition as for the Vendée Globe. It's more a question of making her more reliable, because we're using her even harder. On the one hand, because we have mastered it and on the other hand because we are sailing double-handed.
We made reinforcements at the level of the hull like all the competitors. The boats bounce back hard when they jump, and fall back hard in the waves. Apart from this reinforcement since the end of the summer, we haven't touched anything.
You've been racing with Yann Eliès for several races now? Why this choice of co-skipper?
Yann, I've known him since I was in the Figaro. When I arrived in 2014, he was the leader of the series. I have a lot of respect for him. I've followed his career since he was very young. Sailing gives him a lot of pleasure, and he is very pleasant at sea. We are a complementary duo, we get along well. He wants to do well and so do I. Why not win the race even if there are still a lot of stages to go. He has his qualities, I have mine, we are a great duo.
What are the constraints and advantages of a double-handed race format compared to solo racing?
There are advantages and disadvantages. The boat always goes fast, because there is always someone on deck to trim the sails. But living together in a small and uncomfortable environment is not easy. That's why it's important to sail a little before the race together. You have to find a common ground, not to spread out like at home. You also have to take into account each other's character and the desires of your crew member. To win a Transat Jacques Vabre or achieve a good result, you have to get along well.
It's a pleasure to sail double-handed. We know the boat better, we are more precise in the adjustments and in the requests. More so than when sailing solo.
What do you think of the new race courses? What will it change?
Already, it's a few days longer. So it's not nothing. We're going to go through the doldrums twice, even if the 2nd e is not so bad as that. We're going to sail along the Brazilian coast to the north-east, towards the Amazon, which will undoubtedly bring a lot of waste, and therefore obstacles for us fast boats. There may also be a lot of fishermen. We'll have to be vigilant, racing with an eye out.
There will be changes in the weather too. It changes the course, we are never used to doing this part between Fernando and Martinique, even in the Vendée Globe. It's nice to change.
How do you feel about the competition, both in personal and material terms (boat)?
There are still boats that are there to win: Charal, Apivia, LinkedOut, Bureau Vallée, 11th Hour Racing. These are high-performance boats. The competition is tough. It promises to be a great transatlantic race. After that, we know them well as we sail with them at the Pôle Finistère Course au Large in Port La Forêt and we've done quite a few races with them.
After the Transat Jacques Vabre, what are your plans?
I'm looking for partners to take part in the Vendée Globe 2024 again. I really want to go back there and on that boat. I have a feeling of incompleteness, although it was a great experience. I want to buy this boat again after the Jacques Vabre. I hope that everything will turn around and that we can bounce back afterwards.
