/ 
But who is Anatole Facon? This young sailor, born in 2000, has just broken the record for the single-handed crossing of the North Atlantic in a Class40. On July 3, 2024, he crossed the virtual line between Ushant and Lizard Cape 10 days, 9 hours and 15 minutes after leaving New York. The previous record was held by Eric Defert in 11 days 11 hours 30 minutes and 58 seconds.
We're still awaiting homologation by the WSSRC, but Anatole Facon has just beaten it by more than 24 hours! Quite a feat for this very young sailor.
A waiting list that triggers everything
This adventure begins in 2022. He signed up for the Route du Rhum, but was put on the waiting list due to the large number of participants. This situation got him thinking. " Since the races are overcrowded, why not do a project with records? "Anatole, who has just crossed the finish line, explains.
2 records expected
This sailor will be attempting 2 records: the North Atlantic transatlantic race and the round-the-world Jules Verne Class40 race. To prepare, he is looking for a high-performance boat, but above all a sailor. He managed to get his hands on number 123, a proto designed by Botin Partners in 2013, which still has a sharp nose." I was looking for a boat with a large deckhouse and a bulky bow for a round-the-world trip. The 123 is also well built. My project got off to a late start, as I got the boat just before the start of the CIC Transat and a sponsor the week before the start. Unfortunately, shortly after the start, a rudder ripped off, forcing me to turn back to repair it. But I hung in there, set off again and finished this transatlantic race 4 hours before the finish line closed! "
A false start for the record
After 10 days of repair and rest, Anatole went on stand-by in New York on June 1. " Breaking the North Atlantic record is a difficult task. With a course time of 10 days, you can't count on a reliable weather forecast. We start with a 5-day vision, and then it's a gamble "says the sailor. " What's more, if we encounter less wind, we don't have the time to recover in just 10 days. "
Precise routing
Anatole is routed by Christian Dumard, with whom he achieves 3 points a day. Thanks to a Starlink connection, the router has all the information on board live. He receives a log from the Adrena software every minute. A first departure is decided at the beginning of June with a good window. But the route takes it very close to Newfoundland. " There, you'll meet whales, sunfish and, above all, traps. This first aborted attempt, for lack of good weather, enabled us to determine an exclusion zone. To avoid this type of encounter, which is not good for anyone. "
The second attempt will be the right one
Anatole returns to New York. He's on his own. His team is already on the plane home. But a new window is opening. It will be the right one. " I had dream weather, an optimal window. It wasn't cool conditions, though, as I averaged 22 knots of wind over the 10 days. I had some crazy days, even setting a record of 366 miles in 24 hours. I always had tight wind angles downwind, without ever going too far downwind VMG. The wind was always strong, but I didn't have to gybe, except on the last day to round Lizard Point. Life in these conditions is very stressful. I spend my days checking the boat, looking for problems. Apart from a tear in the mainsail, which was quickly repaired, I didn't break anything. I didn't have to hitch a ride to make repairs. But you spend your time worrying. Unlike a race, you're on your own. It's a bit like being in a trance. You live for your boat, which is like an extension of yourself. "
A Jules Verne in front of the bow
Now Anatole has his sights set on the round-the-world record. The plan is for him to go on stand-by in Brest on November 1, 2024. He hopes that his journey will create a dynamic in Class40, giving new life to the "old" boats that can still provide a lot of pleasure and performance.
