Why go back on this 2 e edition of the Cap Martinique solo?
The idea came from the first edition, which I was lucky enough to do with my brother on a Figaro 2. We found it hard, but once we got there, as is often the case, the bad memories faded. The desire to do it solo made sense; I'd always dreamed of doing this great solo adventure.
On arrival, when I visited Alex Ozon's boat, his helm chair made me dream. I came to the point of setting up a new project, finding a new boat, and federating partners.
What boat will you start with?
I chose a Sun Fast 3300, which I had shortlisted with two other boats. It was Bernard Mallaret's old boat, and he became my mentor for this preparation. He had raced the Transquadra on board, and knew his boat very well, having taken the time to debug it. The configuration of the Sun Fast was geared to this race, where there is statistically less wind than on a Cap Martinique.
How did you prepare for the transition from double to solo?
I was lucky enough to join the Massilia Sailing Academy, which enabled a number of racers to benefit from event-based preparation. I followed 5 weekends of preparation, with a specific coach for each module. We had a bit of theory and a lot of practice. We were 5 competitors from Cap Martinique, two solos and three double crews.
Having run the first edition helps to establish the to-do list. Compared to 2022, it changes a lot of things. I'm still very careful in my preparation.
Mentally, how do you prepare for a solo race?
It's going to be a great discovery, getting to know myself, discovering myself, seeing where I can push my limits. Not many people are lucky enough to be able to race a transatlantic single-handed. I'm lucky enough to be married and to have three children.
But in a way, this race remains a somewhat selfish act, because it's a solo thing.
But solo sailing is a project that brings people together. For example, several members of my family are coming to support me at the start, and I might not have seen them if I hadn't taken the start. It's a great opportunity to see each other and to catch up with friends and family.
When the first edition arrived, we were surprised by the number of messages we received on the networks.
Will you be pursuing a career as a solo racer?
I didn't want to make this a long-term project. It's a project, with a beginning and an end. The aim is to preserve my family, my job and even myself. I built the project by validating it as I went along.
What technical improvements have you made to your Sun Fast?
The first area for improvement was system redundancy, and I concentrated on the essentials. Most of the competitors start with back-up components. I preferred to install them, as they make it possible to switch over more quickly.
The same question was asked about data, broadband or not. We're all going with Iridium go. Starlink is forbidden on the race. We'll all receive the same Grib file every 4 hours.
As for the sails, I wanted to carry all the sail all the time, and we tested several configurations in the pre-season. I re-trimmed some headsails, and installed a large delphinière.
The first edition was great and I'm going back for the whole experience. The atmosphere in the race was really incredible. The aim is to have fun and live a great adventure
You wear the colors of the Fidesco association. Describe it to us:
Fidesco is a Catholic international solidarity organization. It sends volunteers to put their professional skills at the service of development projects implemented by the local Church in southern countries. Having been involved in the past, it's a cause that's very close to my heart.
