With less than a month to go, what is your state of mind?
I'm quite serene. The boat is ready. The team has worked well. We're doing the last few sailings to check everything out, but I think we've already ticked off quite a few boxes.
You've had a very good start to the season. What are your ambitions for this Transat Jacques Vabreeuros?
We've had good results so far. (Editor's note: victory in the Fastnet 2021 and the 48H Azimut challenge). The objective is therefore logically to win. After that, there are a lot of good boats and something can always happen in the race.
Was there any work done this summer on the boat, especially for the double, and if so which one?
The boat was designed for single-handed sailing and we don't modify it for double-handed sailing. Otherwise, we would have to do too much work. First of all, we checked the boat. We closed a little more at the rear at the mainsheet bar. We also put a deck sweeper under the boom to improve the effect of the plate with the roof.
You are sailing with Paul Meilhat as co-skipper. Can you tell us more about this choice and how your pairing works?
I had drawn up a set of specifications for the co-skipper I would have liked to have for the Transat Jacques Vabre. I wanted someone who knew IMOCA and who could sail fast. Paul has sailed quite a bit with Sam Davies. The course is quite long and physical, so I also wanted someone who is physically very fit. All the latest generation boats are up to speed. It's going to be hard work. We'll be pushing the boats hard. We'll have to keep up with the high speeds. Today, I'm happy with how things are going with Paul. We're really compatible, the exchanges are fluid. I take care of the weather and the strategy a little more and then we exchange.
What are the constraints and advantages of a double-handed race format compared to solo or crewed racing?
I have my little habits as a solitary person and it is not always easy to have people on board. At the beginning, you feel like you're hosting people in your old man's apartment. But after the Vendée Globe, having two people on board is quite welcome. It's quite nice to share the workload, the mast work, the maneuvers, and also the mental load with the weather.
What do you think of the new EuroRace courses? What will it change?
First of all, it's longer. Usually, after the doldrums, we had time to breathe a little, it was straight to Salvador de Bahia. Here, I think it will be denser and stronger than two years ago. We're going to discover a new zone, crossing the doldrums at a 45 degree angle, which can change things. We know that there are many things in the water in these places, but there is a forbidden zone off the Amazon.
After the Transat Jacques Vabre, what are your plans?
The contract with my sponsor Apivia goes until the Route du Rhum 2022. I'm looking forward to this legendary race, which I've never participated in before. I will also be happy to return to solo sailing. For the rest, the rest of the program will be announced on November 5th.
