Interview / Tanguy Le Turquais: "I think this will be my one and only Vendée Globe"

© Coline Beal

Tanguy Le Turquais is about to set sail on his first Vendée Globe. It's a childhood dream he's had for 25 years, and one he's managed to make a reality thanks to the sweat of his brow and that of his team. Aboard an old-generation IMOCA, he supports the homeless through the Lazare association.

Tanguy Le Turquais is a determined and passionate sailor, who began his career in Mini 6.50, before progressing to Figaro and joining the IMOCA circuit in 2021. After several landmark competitions, he is taking part in the Vendée Globe 2024 aboard Lazare, a 2007 IMOCA. As a member of the Lazare association, he aims to inspire and show that you can achieve your goals despite the obstacles, while emphasizing the social commitment of his project.

This is your first Vendée Globe. What prompted you to take up this challenge?

A lot of things. It's pretty incredible! I don't know if many people on the planet are lucky enough to be at the start of their childhood dream. I'm 35 and I've been thinking about it every day for 25 years. It's in my blood. How lucky I am to be at this moment of realizing my dream.

What are your sporting goals for this year's event, and how do you cope with the pressure of taking part for the first time?

I discover pressure every day. I discover anxieties every day, but in the end, there's more excitement than anxiety. I've got an old boat, so I'm not going to win, but I want to try and finish. Even if we know that there's always breakage. There's a little league 2 in the class: the daggerboard IMOCAs. We don't stand a chance against the foilers, but we're happy to fight amongst ourselves.

Le skipper de l'IMOCA Lazare, Tanguy Le Turquais © Coline Beal
IMOCA Lazare skipper Tanguy Le Turquais © Coline Beal

Can you describe the physical and mental preparation you've put in place to be ready on the day of departure?

I didn't do any mental preparation, but just trying to achieve everything I did to be at the start is mental preparation in itself. But I went through such intense mental trials to be able to take the start of the race and moor up at the pontoons in Les Sables. Finding sponsors was a big job. For every 100 "no's" you get 1 "yes", and you learn to push yourself. On the sporting side, I haven't changed my habits. I work out every day, I don't drink alcohol, I go to bed early - in short, I'm a boring guy (Laughs).

How did the final stages of preparation go? What did you learn from your previous IMOCA races?

What I discovered when I switched from the Figaro to the IMOCA was this more impressive technical dimension. Things can get out of hand very quickly. Things can quickly get out of hand and have a big impact. You're not sailing on the brakes, but you're not at 100% all the time.

Technically, I've had a good season, the boat is ready and the team isn't too tired. It's a positive assessment. The CIC Transat went well, as did the Return to Base.

L'IMOCA Lazare de Tanguy Le Turquais © Pierre Bouras
Tanguy Le Turquais's IMOCA Lazare © Pierre Bouras

Your IMOCA is a 2007 model designed by Finot-Conq. What are its strengths, and how have you adapted it for this non-stop round-the-world race? What work have you done on it since you bought it?

It's passed through the hands of a number of sailors, including Damien Seguin and Eric Bellion, who have developed it a lot. I bought her at the peak of her development. We chose not to fit foils, as it's better with daggerboards. We worked on the ergonomics, to make it easier to use. Damien Seguin had already worked hard on performance. We made a slide for stuffing bags, a more suitable helm seat, and sail stuffing aft. We simplified things without adding too much weight.

Does sailing without foils influence your strategic approach to racing?

Completely. We sail completely differently from foilers. I don't approach the race any differently, but we don't sail the same way. I've only sailed on daggerboard boats, so it doesn't change much for me.

L'IMOCA Lazare de Tanguy Le Turquais © Pierre Bouras
Tanguy Le Turquais's IMOCA Lazare © Pierre Bouras

You've associated your adventure with the Lazare association. How does this involvement with them influence your vision of the race? How does this social dimension add extra motivation for this Vendée Globe?

When you have Lazarus in your sails, you have no right to complain. These are resilient people. They've been through hard times, and it's been very hard for them to get through. I meet them on a regular basis, and I suggest to the association that they sail with these people who have made it. In the end, we're in the entertainment business. When you're having a hard time on the boat, you tell yourself that it's nothing compared to what these people are going through. It's something extra. These people inspire me.

As a young skipper on the IMOCA scene, what are your plans and dreams for the post-Vendée Globe era? Is your boat up for sale, or have you already found a replacement?

I don't think I'll do another Vendée Globe. I think this will be my one and only Vendée Globe. I want to make it a unique event, to enjoy it. I'm saying that now, even though I haven't set off yet. I don't know what I'll be like when I get back.

Right now, I just want to enjoy it. I've been fighting for years to be at the start. Of course, the boat is for sale, but I hope to stay on boats and why not turn to the Multi50.

Tanguy Le Turquais © Coline Beal
Tanguy Le Turquais © Coline Beal

What advice would you give to young sailors wishing to embark on a solo offshore career?

I would tell them that one thing that really blocked me was comparing myself to others. As a result, I felt a lot less good about myself. You have to watch out for limiting thoughts and get rid of them. Everyone is capable of going all the way with their projects. Of course, you have to be willing to take risks and put yourself in danger. In the end, the first person to convince is yourself.

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