Audrey Ogereau has been accompanying Erwan Le Roux on the Ocean Fifty Koesio for the past year. With a background in Olympic sailing, she is about to take part in her first transatlantic race, and therefore her first Transat Jacques Vabre, in the role of co-skipper.
Can you tell us about your background?
I started sailing in an Optimist at the age of 10, before moving on to sport catamarans in the classic Hobie 16 and SL16 series, and then to Olympic sailing in the Nacra 17. I then took part as skipper with Oman Sail in the Tour de France à la voile with Omani women. It was more a case of passing on and coaching the girls. Since last year, I've been sailing with Erwan on the Ocean Fifty. I had an inshore career until May 2023, when I started sailing offshore.
How did you come to meet Erwan Le Roux and the Koesio team?
Erwan wanted the team to be more gender-balanced. There are already quite a few girls in the team, in different positions. But he was also looking for female sailors. The team manager knew me from Oman Sail. She contacted me. We did a team-building course in the mountains, then a sailing course. Last year, it was more about training and press relations. We took people from the Koesio group out sailing. It was cool, with no pressure on maneuvers... It's a great way to learn. At the end of the season, we took part in a regatta that went really well.
This year, I told him I'd quit my job as an engineer and was therefore more available. I joined the team 100%, and he asked me to do the Transat Jacques Vabre with him. I said yes straight away.
What do you think of the Ocean Fifty?
When I got on the Ocean Fifty, it was really impressive. It's a big boat, which goes fast because it's so light. The acceleration gives the same sensations as on a small boat. When you don't know the boat, you feel like you're on both a big and a small boat. That's the part I loved.
The offshore part involves weather analysis on a larger scale, the daily routine part, sleeping, eating, washing... It's a big part of the job to know how to manage yourself offshore. It's very different to live on a racing boat compared to a routine at home.
What does Erwan bring to your apprenticeship?
He's keen to pass on his knowledge. He gives me advice on how to simplify my life, how to get past certain pitfalls, whether in everyday life or in performance. Being in performance is different from knowing how to preserve yourself, knowing where to put the risk cursor... You realize that changing the sails for an hour isn't necessarily worth it, whereas if you were inshore, you'd do it. He also lets me make my little mistakes, as part of a learning process.
Is the aim to continue in the world of ocean racing within the Koesio team with Erwan Le Roux, or to have a project of your own?
Maybe the goal is both. It's to continue with Erwan on other races, if things go well on this Transat Jacques Vabre, always in this approach of transmission. After that, the longer-term goal would be to sail solo or have my own boat.
You're about to sail your first transatlantic race. How do you feel about it?
The stress is mounting. The weather looks a bit warm for the start. It's only Tuesday and that could change. I'm excited, I want to go and see what we can do. I can't wait to get there and finally be the two of us on the boat. I can't wait.
How did you prepare for the race?
We've been doing a lot of physical training. We have a fitness trainer who follows us. He's been with Erwan for a long time, and with me since this year. We've also got a mental trainer who's been preparing us for a month, and particularly this last week.
We managed the refuelling on our own, with Erwan's experience. We also trained a lot on the water. We're one of the boats that's trained a lot. As I don't know much about the boat, it was important for me to learn the maneuvers, tack and follow the chart during a leg between Brittany and La Rochelle. This helps me to feel more confident for the start.
What is your objective for this Transat Jacques Vabre?
The aim, as we often say, is to finish ahead of the runner-up. We want to win. After that, it's a race I don't know, so it's ambitious to set a winning target. I think we'll be happy to get there already. Depending on the weather conditions, there's always a risk of breaking something or turning over. It's a long race, so there's a chance of not finishing. The aim is to get to the other side, and as a competitor, beat our mates.
What happens after the Transat Jacques Vabre?
We'll see how the Transat goes, and how we are afterwards. I want to continue with Erwan and Koesio. There's a great program coming up for the Ocean Fifty class, and I hope to be there. I also have a selection goal for the America's Cup, and I hope to get in. So, I'll have to manage these two projects at the same time and coordinate my schedules.
