Sebastien Simon sailed for a long time under the colors of Paprec Arkea aboard a new IMOCA, the plans for which he had entrusted to Juan Kouyoumdjian. Despite numerous technical problems with his boat, he was in a good position for the Vendée Globe 2020-2021, when he was forced to retire after colliding with a UFO. At the end of the Transat Jacques Vabre the same year, he loses his sponsor, but doesn't forget his dreams of a solo round-the-world race. With the arrival of Groupe Dubreuil, he took up racing again aboard the winning boat of The Ocean Race, and lined up for the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 for his first race under his new colors.
How do you feel about your return to the IMOCA circuit after this break?
I'm very happy to be back on the IMOCA circuit, which I left in 2021. Since then, I've been looking for new projects to take part in the Vendée Globe 2024. I'm left with a taste of unfinished business, as I was forced to retire in 4th place. I managed to find new partners, the Dubreuil Group, to live my dream a second time and maybe go all the way.
In 2022, I experienced The Ocean race. I picked up points for my Vendée Globe qualification and enjoyed sailing with Benjamin Dutreux.
When this project was launched with this partner, who had already been my partner since 2018 on my previous project, it was a real pleasure. It's a dream come true. And for the first time, I have a project based in Vendée, at home, without having to go into exile in Brittany as I did before.
Can you tell us about the choice of your boat, the former 11th Hour Racing? What made you choose this boat?
There weren't 50 boats on the market, but we knew that the boat on course to win The Ocean Race was for sale. The Dubreuil group and I jumped at the chance. We've done very well, and we're delighted.
She's a latest-generation boat, with a proven track record. She's erased the mistakes of her youth, and that's reassuring for a short-term project with a Vendée Globe only a year away.
Have you carried out any work on board since your victory in The Ocean Race? How do you adapt a crew-optimized boat to your new, more double-handed and solo-oriented project?
We haven't planned any major investments or work. It's already highly optimized, and our project is just getting off the ground. This is the Dubreuil Group's first experience of ocean racing as a major partner, and we have to put together a whole new team. In July, we didn't even have a screwdriver. We were starting from scratch. We wanted to give ourselves time, and we have an optimized boat that has already proved its worth. Our aim is to get out on the water and not to do any work, as I've done before. We're just doing maintenance, since we've got the opportunity to sail with a well-optimized boat. Of course, she's been around the world, and some parts wear out, but it's still maintenance.
Is your project now financed to the extent of your ambitions?
When the Dubreuil Group approached me about the Vendée Globe 2024, the aim of which is to celebrate the Group's 100th anniversary, they asked me to present them with a reasonable project. And that's exactly what I did.
The budget allows us to continue working on the boat for performance, but does not allow us to set up a technical team of more than 15 people. When we decided to set up this project, we were already thinking of basing it in Les Sables-d'Olonne, where today there are no competent resources to manage it.
First of all, I've surrounded myself with people close to me and we're putting together a technical team, with people who don't necessarily come from ocean racing backgrounds. Once we've built up trust and the project has taken off, we'll see how we can develop it further.
We know where we come from and we're lucky enough to have a great boat in our hands, so we've got a lot of cards to play.
What do you take away from your experience of The Ocean Race on Guyot, the technical problems you encountered and your experience of sailing with an IMOCA crew?
It reinforces the fact that I prefer solo sailing to crewed racing. It was an incredible experience. We're very lucky to have had this adventure. From a sporting point of view, it didn't live up to our expectations, but from a human point of view, we learned a lot. It was very enriching.
How did you prepare for the Jacques Vabre, both physically and technically?
Since 2021, I've been doing a lot of triathlon and cardio sports. By the time I got to The Ocean Race, I'd lost a lot of muscle. So I did a lot of muscle strengthening. But I prefer cardio. It's kind of the core of my preparation, and my daily balance: running, cycling and swimming.
In the end, we sailed more than we'd imagined. Now that's the competitor talking, I would have preferred to sail more. We did a nice 9-day crossing between Italy and Les Sables-d'Olonne. It's the best way to get to grips with your boat. It's not too bad.
Today you have to qualify for the Vendée Globe and rack up as many miles as possible. What's on the agenda?
We're taking part in the Transat Jacques Vabre, and we'll also be doing the Transat Retour à la base. Our advantage is that we can play both the points qualification and the new boats qualification, as we're one of only 13 new boats built since the last Vendée Globe.
The aim is to qualify for the Vendée Globe, and especially for the Transat Retour with the new boats. It's not about getting a result. This year, we're aiming for qualification, and we'll be experimenting with performance in the races of 2024. We'll be taking part in all the qualifying races: the Transat CIC, the New York Vendée - Les Sables-d'Olonne and the Vendée Globe.
What is your goal for this Transat Jacques Vabre?
The objective has been defined with the Dubreuil group, and we're going to have to reason and be reasonable. We're going to have to forget about the sporting side of things for a while. The aim is to continue getting to know the boat, develop the project, and above all secure qualification for the Vendée Globe. Next year, we'll be able to approach things differently.
Can you introduce us to your co-skipper and explain why he was chosen?
Iker Martinez, for those who are passionate about sailing, is quite well known. He's one of Europe's greatest champions. He's vice Olympic champion, Olympic champion, he's done three Volvo Ocean Races and one Barcelona Race.
I met him on a surf trip with some friends in the Canaries. He recognized me and we hit it off. We sailed together in 2021, and brought the boat back together after the Transat Jaques Vabre.
I really enjoy sailing with him, he's very open-minded. His background is different, as he comes from the Volvo Ocean Race, but he knows our projects and our need for recognition. He knows these very long races, the fact that it's a mechanical sport, and he helps me to approach things differently with a view to the Vendée Globe.
