Going from virtual to real racing in Class40
Taking part in the 2023 Transat Jacques Vabre in a Class40 is the challenge proposed by Philippe Guigné, director of Virtual Regatta, on the eve of the start of the double-handed race in 2021. By launching the "From virtual to real" program, the objective was to allow one of the finalists of the regatta simulation game platform to take part in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023.
Emmy Grosseau, one of three women among the 10 finalists
Out of the 10,000 players who applied for the start, 1,000 were selected for a virtual qualifying race to be completed in January within the allotted time. Of the 216 finishers, 73 files were sent in and only 20 budding sailors were selected to take part in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023. Emmy Grosseau, 25 years old, from Lorient and passionate about ocean racing, is among the 10 finalists and is currently following a training course in Le Havre, at the end of which will be revealed on Saturday, May 13, 2023, the person who will have the chance to be the co-skipper of Kieran Le Borgne, on his Class40 n°88 Recycleurs Bretons.
A week of physical and knowledge tests
She qualified for the virtual race in the IMOCA category with a race time of 24d 8h 14 m and 11 seconds explains: "We had to put together a file with a photo, a letter of motivation, a nautical CV and make a video broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Transat Jacques Vabre to prove our motivation. After a vote of the jury - composed of the organizers of Virtual Regatta, the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Ligue de Voile de Normandie - and the public, I was selected for the last qualification. We are more than 10. We are in Le Havre since May 9th. We have passed physical tests, knowledge tests and we are carrying out tests at sea. We are sailing in J80, double-handed, one helmsman and one crew member and half an afternoon on Kieran Le Borgne's Class40. On May 11, there will be only three of us left and on the 14th the person chosen by the jury will be announced."
A desire to continue in ocean racing
Passionate about ocean racing, Emmy Grosseau has a 200 captaincy and a deckhand certificate. She has been sailing since she was 6 years old on different boats, Optimist, catamaran, and liveaboard. She is currently studying communication and event management in ocean racing, and dreams of the Mini Transat. She details: "I've always loved sailing and I try to do it as much as possible. I also play a lot of Virtual Regatta, so I went ahead and made my video. I really want to continue in this field. Today, we are there. I was lucky enough to be taken. We are a good group of 10, we sail, we share. The last three selected will leave for a 24-hour offshore race at the end of which we will know Kieran Le Borgne's co-skipper."
Amateurs with varied profiles
Among the 10 people selected, the profiles are varied, mainly amateurs who sail a little. Among them are three women, including Emmy, who is hoping to secure her place as co-skipper for the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023.
Several months of training before the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023
From June until the start of the race, the selected sailor will participate in training and sailing simulation sessions, physical and mental preparation sessions, technical and tactical training and exchanges with professional skippers.
