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Some embarkations are more relaxed than others, and Armel Tripon's is one of them. Below deck on his brand-new IMOCA Les P'tits Doudous ready for the Transat Café l'Or 2025, the skipper from Nantes lends himself to an offbeat interview. A way of revealing what goes on behind the scenes, between complicity, emotion and outspokenness.
Simple objects for a not-so-small crossing
Before setting sail, Armel Tripon slips a trolling line and a book into his bag. Nothing extravagant. "If we're going to get out of here, we might as well have something to read he jokes. The tone is set: spontaneous, unvarnished, very seafaring.
A team member, confidences, an atmosphere
The co-skipper, Tangy, is described in one word. Not two. And that word speaks volumes. Between laughter and confidences, Armel acknowledges his indispensable qualities on board. This duo is not here by chance. It operates on a tightrope between trust and simplicity.
Technological automatisms and human emotions
When he talks about autopilots, his voice changes. He speaks of finesse, of precision, of what was once unthinkable. "I am in awe he murmurs. A rare admiration for those who have seen so much. Yet the skipper remains firmly anchored: the real emotions come from the open sea. A moonrise, a heavy sea, a well-taken surf, that's beyond all algorithms.
Music, dream dishes and childhood memories
No superstition, but a habit: leave with a playlist. Sometimes even offered by a DJ friend. This year, he was supposed to embark with a Stereolux compilation. Missed, but the spirit is there. On arrival? A hot, tasty, as yet undefined dish. And always that taste of childhood, that memory of an optimist on a Mediterranean lake.
Ice and Polynesia as next ports of call
The South, the ice, the fjords... Armel dreams of sailing in the cold zones. But also of sailing to the Marquesas Islands. These two extremes reveal the same desire: to sail far, differently. And if one day he were to have his own boat, it would be a flying multihull or a large cruiser, depending on the mood and the season.
Pragmatic ecology and humanity on board
When it comes to materials, Armel isn't selling dreams. He talks about a boat built in part with scrap from the aeronautics industry. Not a perfect example, but a lead. An attempt. A conscience. And above all, he insists: "Without my team, I'm nothing" . Neither posturing nor imposture: a statement of fact.
