Mikael Mergui and Ludovic Mechin are about to set off on the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 aboard the Centrakor Class 40. They tell us about their preparations just a few hours before the start.
How's the start?
The weather has improved, but things will remain lively on the start line. The latest weather updates have calmed things down compared with the forecasts we had at the start of the week. We should have a south-westerly flow of 20 knots of steady wind, gusting to 30 knots.
But the situation is still going to change. The most worrying thing is the weather situation 4-5 days after the start, with a big front about to fall on part of the fleet. But that's the game! We know that a race that starts at the end of October in Le Havre is synonymous with invigorating conditions
We'll have another weather briefing on Saturday morning, to validate the inshore course just after the start.
Your Class 40 underwent a major winter refit, with the front third of the hull changed. Are you satisfied with the modification?
Yes, we wanted to improve the boat's performance on the points of sail predominant on this Jacques Vabre course. And this area had been damaged during the Route du Rhum. So we had to change it anyway. We cut out the front third of the hull to modify it and restore it to its original position.
We sailed the boat to La Trinité to train with other Class 40s, but our home port remains Hyères.
We validated this major project and made it reliable over several thousand miles of racing. We raced the Armen race, the Normandie Channel Race, Les Sables-Horta-Les Sables, and sometimes in very tough conditions.
Your original co-skipper, Fabien Henry, had to withdraw due to injury, and was replaced by your boat captain Ludovic Mechin. How do you cope with a last-minute change?
Ludovic and I have known each other for a long time, so it wasn't a problem. He knows the boat inside out and was able to be there when we learned that Fabien had a broken rib, which meant he couldn't race the transatlantic in complete safety. Ludo is a very good navigator. At just 37 years of age, he has already crossed the Atlantic 6 times, including a podium finish in the Mini Transat. We've worked hard on maneuvering and trimming the various stages. Fabien will of course stay by our side and continue to assist us right up to the start.
What are your goals for this double-handed transatlantic race?
It should take between 18 and 20 days to reach the finish. The aim is to get to the other side and tell our supporters about a great adventure, and to enjoy the moment. We're going to do the best we can, but we're still competitors. We're up against over-trained crews on great boats. We know how lucky we are to be at the start. The human factor will make all the difference at the start of the race, so we're hoping to stay in touch with the leading group.
What happens after the Jacques Vabre?
We've been busy preparing for the Jacques Vabre since January, so we're going to take a little break after bringing the boat back to Hyères. We have a great racing program for 2024. And we're also keen to support the Petits Princes Association, which aims to make the dreams of sick children and teenagers come true. We have the opportunity to sail sick children, who really need to live their dream, so it's important to do so.
