Interview / Romain Attanasio: "I wanted to go back with a foiler, even if it's not new"

© Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE

Romain Attanasio is preparing for his third Vendée Globe with the IMOCA Fortinet-Best Western, after two previous editions that forged his experience. Drawing on the lessons he has learned, he aims to improve his performance despite a recent dismasting that required intense technical and financial management.

Romain Attanasio has made a name for himself in the world of ocean racing, and is currently preparing for his third Vendée Globe. After two previous editions marked by challenges, including a difficult course in 2016-2017 and a 14th-place finish in 2020, Attanasio returns in 2024 with a strong desire to improve his performance. This year, he is sailing the IMOCA Fortinet-Best Western a boat which recently suffered a dismasting during the Défi Azimut, mobilizing major efforts to repair it in time for the Vendée Globe.

You're about to take part in your 3rd Vendée Globe. What are your goals for this edition? What makes you want to go back?

It's often compared to Everest. It's having a new boat for each edition. Each project was really different. My first Vendée Globe was on the Penguin, in 110 days. For the second time, I had a more powerful boat and I finished in 90 days. I wanted to go back with a foiler, even if it's not a new boat. It might take us between 75 and 80 days. It won't be the same difficulty, but it won't take as long either.

What lessons have you learned from your previous Vendée Globes, particularly the one in 2020 when you finished 14th?

For every problem there's a solution. That's what I learned from the previous Vendée Globe. Solutions are always found. With a few exceptions, although Yves Parlier showed that a dismasting was possible to solve. It's a lesson in the sea, but it's also a lesson in life. I feel like I've come back different. It changes a man. And that will be the case again this year.

L'IMOCA Fortinet Best Western © Richard Mardens
IMOCA Fortinet Best Western © Richard Mardens

Since you bought your IMOCA in 2021, what changes has it undergone, particularly in view of this Vendée Globe?

Boris and his team had already done a lot of work on it. The evolutions would have meant changing the foils, and therefore the shafts, and the bow, which costs ?300,000. All in all, I needed a budget of ?1 million.

Right from the start, I warned the team that the aim was to make the boat more reliable. My first 2 Vendée Globes were sailed in degraded mode. On the first, I had no rudder, and on the 2nd, no sail. At 95% reliability, I'm going to have a good race.

We're talking about the Vendée, not a transatlantic race. On the Azimut, we got off to a good start, with flat seas and 18 knots of wind. However, I got unstuck. In the Vendée Globe, there are so many parameters to take into account.

It was a special edition last time, even if Yannick (editor's note: Bestaven) won with small foils. Reliability is important. In the Deep South, we don't sail like we do in the Bay of Lorient. You have to manage before going fast.

Romain Attanasio © Richard Mardens
Romain Attanasio © Richard Mardens

Your IMOCA, Fortinet-Best Western recently suffered a dismasting during the Défi Azimut. How did you deal with this situation, both technically and financially, just a few weeks before the start?

It was a race against time. We knew we didn't have much time. Technical and financial aspects are not easy. Some parts had to be redone in incomprehensible times. For the shrouds and sails, it took 3 weeks. The shrouds are almost the longest to do. Luckily we're on a one-design mast, otherwise it would have been complicated. We didn't have time to get bored or complain.

The shrouds were ordered the day after the finish. We didn't know for sure. The moment I saw the mast on the ground, I told myself there would be no Vendée Globe. It lasted barely 5 minutes. We had to free the rigging and spend about thirty hours on the engine to get back to base.

My shore team searched and surveyed the masts. 11 masts were available, which was a great relief. Maxime (editor's note: Sorel) called me while I was at sea to let us know that he and his partners were looking into the possibility of selling us his spare mast. On our return, we concluded the deal at cost price. The problem is that in my budget, I don't have an extra envelope in case of problems. I've tried to put in ?10,000 a year over four years, but everything costs money and has gone up.

it's not easy to find ?450,000. I manage my team, not like in the big stables. I have an annual budget that can't be stretched. However, Fortinet helped me, as did Best Western. Everyone contributed according to their status as hoteliers. I also have small partners who have helped me, to a much greater extent than they usually do. We managed to raise ?250,000.

Then we had the idea of creating this fund. My partner Lorie launched the whole thing. She came to see me and told me she'd chosen Leetchi. Under ?10,000, it was a bit expensive, with a 6% fee, but above that it was only 1%, and cheaper than the other campaigns. Inside, I laughed, thinking we'd never get them! We had 1,300 donors whose names are inscribed on the mast. There were also several rewards depending on donations. For those who donated ?1,000, we'll be organizing sailing trips on the boat in June 2025.

On October 28, 2024, we stood at ?151,000. It's a real support in hard times. We got off to a great start! My partners realized that I was appreciated. It's very motivating.

Today we don't have all the money. We've raised ?350,000 of the ?480,000 needed. I'll manage the rest with my bank and an advance from Best Western. For a company with a turnover of ?1 million, ?480,000 in expenses is quite a blow...

Romain Attanasio © Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE
Romain Attanasio © Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE

Precisely where does reliability stand after the dismasting?

It's not as much as I would have liked. I've sailed twice since then, once to Lorient and the second time to Les Sables. We're sailing this afternoon. I haven't done a committed tack in 30 knots of reaching. It's going to give me a little pinch when it happens.

Your project relies on partners like Fortinet and Best Western, but also on a wider network. How do you manage this diversity of support?

It's a lot of work. That's the other side of the coin. There are 8 of us in my team, 4 in the technical department and 3 in the office. There are around thirty partners to manage, not counting Lorie who's 100%. I have a corporate club with around twenty companies who put in ?3,000 a year. I look after them like everyone else. The advantage is that if something goes wrong, they're always there. I like this entrepreneurial side.

I've given talks for a club of entrepreneurs. Their last question was: "If you had a big sponsor who offered you a new boat, a big budget, who would manage everything... would you go?" I don't know if I'd go. The hardest part is managing everyone, but the managerial side is nice.

It's a different kind of work. When you dismast, for example, it's for you. Alain Gauthier, at the finish of the Route du Rhum in Orma, a fickle boat, explained, "You get 5 years after a race, and 10 years when you're the owner." It's a concern that some people don't have.

You're involved with the NGO PLAY International. How does this fit in with your Vendée Globe project and why is this partnership so important to you?

We do a few operations with schools for children in difficulty. Arnaud Assoumani, disabled long jumper, came here with the children. We show them other worlds. School isn't easy for everyone. It wasn't easy for me either. It's important to educate children, to give them a framework, but there are other ways of doing it too.

L'IMOCA Fortinet Best Western © Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE
IMOCA Fortinet Best Western © Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE

You mentioned that the first success in the Vendée Globe is getting to the start. With all the challenges this year, what was the most difficult part of your preparation?

There were lots of difficult moments to deal with during the races. The dismasting was the most difficult and unexpected. She's a solid boat. I sailed her like never before, compared to the others. We didn't force the mechanics, it was so unexpected, so close to the start.

The boat had never been in such a beautiful configuration. The Défi Azimut 2024 was the last warm-up round, the last run-in. It makes for great images, and it's a fun race in Lorient. A part broke and it would have broken on the Vendée. The first difficulty is to be at the start and the second, to be at the finish.

What is your strategy for navigating the tricky sections of the course, and what conditions are you particularly looking forward to this year?

All kinds of conditions, more or less difficult. The weather's going to be tough and there are going to be a lot of technical problems. Compared to the other races, we have to deal with it calmly. You have to stay zen.

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