Sébastien Rogues is about to start the Transat Jacques Vabre on a freshly-launched boat. We asked him about his new boat and his ambitions for this double-handed race.
Your boat is the last of the Ocean Fifty class to be launched. How did the fine-tuning go?
The launch took place on August 17. Everything went well technically. The Multiplast yard produced the essential parts of the boat, and we were responsible for around 30% of the construction. We've installed all the onboard systems, and we're making everything reliable.
The main advantage of this organization is that we've launched a boat we know perfectly well. The boat is still a bit young, but that's not an obstacle. 99% of the boat is perfect, but ocean racing is all about the details.
After your class 40, it's your 2 e new boat. What's the difference between building a 40-foot monohull and a 50-foot multihull?
I have indeed been lucky enough to have skippered a new boat before, in this case a 2013 Class40 with a Manuard design. But the follow-up to these two projects was radically different. Building an Ocean Fifty proved more demanding. I was the conductor of this adventure, and it wasn't easy. Fortunately, we weren't starting from scratch. We used Arkema 4 molds for the hull and structural shapes. I added my experience and vision to the ergonomic and crew protection aspects.
Will this newcomer overshadow the older boats in the Ocean Fifty class?
Our technical regulations don't make older boats obsolete. The proof is in the last edition, which I won on a multihull launched in 2009. Our measurement rules are really written to limit costs and keep the whole fleet competitive. For example, the only difference between my trimaran in "transatlantic" or "inshore regatta" configuration is the cockpit protection cap.
We're very proud to have 6 boats in the same class, where the atmosphere is really excellent. Nevertheless, just because we're buddies with our rivals doesn't mean we're going to give them any gifts. We're presenting ourselves as outsiders in this edition of the Jacques Vabre, but if our rivals don't open the door to us, we're going to kick it down.
What are the differences between your old boat and your new one?
The main difference with the old Primonial is that the living quarters are on deck, not in the central hull. We no longer go down into the "cellar".
Secondly, Primonial 2 is a trimaran designed with a much more aerodynamic profile than its predecessor.
How long will this crossing take?
It should take us between 14 and 16 days. We've been under a bit of pressure from the other classes on the choice of course, and we're going to head very far south, crossing the Doldrums twice.
You're the defending champion. Who is the most serious contender in the Ocean Fifty class?
The class is really evenly matched. The older boats are still in the mix, and could make the difference if there's air. I have an affection for my old boat, which will be sailed by Luke Berry and Antoine Joubert. In the more recent boats, Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and Quentin Vlamynck are, for me, the best of the best "customers" the most serious. The two of them have the most miles between them, and the boat has great potential. But everyone will have a card to play, as the level is so high. All it takes is a minor technical problem or a slowdown at the head of the race to upset the rankings. On the Jacques Vabre, everything moves very fast, and a technical problem is unforgiving
What's next for the Primonial Sailing Team?
We'll be doing a big debrief on this Jacques Vabre, which will provide us with new technical support. We'll then move on to the Pro Sailing Tour circuit in the spring of 2024. And we'd like to line up in offshore crewed regattas like the Middle Sea Race.
