After a successful first day for the two Macif skippers on Day 1 of the Solo Guy Cotten Figaro race around Les Glénan, with victory for Loïs Berrrehar and ninth place for Charlotte Yen respectively, we caught up with them to talk about their pairing and the Figaro class on this first event of the season.
After a very double-oriented 2023 season, how do you assess your duo and what does it bring you for a more solo-oriented 2024 season?
Charlotte : There are 2 double-handed races this year. In any case, we continue to work in pairs, even if we're solo on the water. We share the team, the technique, we prepare the races and the weather together, and we have joint discussions. In addition to fleet training at the Pôle Finistère, we also do 2-boat training on specific objectives.
Lois: That's the richness of the Macif program. We're 2 sufficiently dynamic profiles and we're lucky enough to be in a pairing that's already worked well, with victory in the Transat. That gives us confidence in the effectiveness of the method. We work together on both technical and mental aspects. We're not necessarily at the same stage and with the same solo objectives, so it's quite complementary.
Charlotte : I came in with less experience and that made me take it up a notch.
How do you see the renewal of the skipper line-up, and does it affect the way we sail?
Charlotte : There are some new faces, with 22 new skippers in 2 years. Which is really nice. There are still a lot of white boats, and we're hoping that everyone will find the budget.
Lois: There's a palpable momentum towards ocean racing in general, and we can see that the Figaro is also getting a boost. At the start of the season, you know where you stand with your training group and less with the rest of the fleet, even more so with so many newcomers. When you're new to managing a 3-tonne boat like a dinghy, you can get carried away. That's why we're more vigilant when it comes to making contact, and we anticipate things more.
Did Benoît Tuduri's disqualification for cheating last season change things in the class and your organization?
Charlotte : It was a good reminder of the rules. It made me think about controlling myself even more. Yesterday, there was a reminder at the briefing about the ban on phones on board.
Gender equality was one of the main themes of the Figaro in 2023, and has it evolved? Equal pay for equal work in sailing was a hot topic at the America's Cup. What's the situation at Macif?
Charlotte : At Macif, we have the same salaries! As far as the gender mix is concerned, there are 8 of us on this Solo Guy Cotten, which is more than usual. Overall, we're more numerous, with more "rookies". The TourVoile and the requirement for a woman have brought in a lot of newcomers, which is very positive.
What are your ambitions and plans for 2024 and beyond?
Lois: Chances are this will be my last solo year on a Figaro for a while, so the goal is obviously high. It's no secret that I'd like to win the Solitaire. Behind that, I'd like to sail professionally again, as part of a crew as well as in the Ocean Race. When you start out in the Figaro, single-handed round-the-world races are obviously the stuff of dreams. But places are hard to come by and you have to be opportunistic.
Charlotte : I still have 2 seasons with Macif. We always want to do better than the year before, and the bar is already high with victory in the Transat and 6th place in the French Championship. I'm keen to repeat the feat and look for solo podiums.
