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They're on the eve of a transatlantic race, but the mood is still light. On the quayside in Le Havre, just after the Transat Café l'Or 2025 press conference, we meet up with Anthony Marchand and Julien Villion, the duo who will be setting off on Actual Ultim 4 the ex-Gitana 17. The interview, conducted in video format, takes the opposite tack from the usual seriousness of weather briefings: we talk about coffee, lucky charms, optimist memories, and even... Haribo sweets.
You can watch the full interview on video (link at the top of the article), but here's something to whet your appetite.
An obvious bond aboard a giant
"Julien, it's a Cartesian pleasure." says Anthony Marchand with a smile. His teammate retorts: "Anthony is my opposite, so we complement each other." The tone is set. The duo's cohesion was not built on 32-meter flying boats, but on much more modest craft. Julien talks about his 1974 wooden caravel, while Anthony sails with his family on a coastal sailboat far removed from the Ultim. Anchored sailors.
Simple yet deeply rooted rituals
There's almost no superstition on board. Julien has no gri-gri, but Anthony always carries a small lucky charm given to him by his daughter. As for the morning ritual, it doesn't change: a cup of coffee and a weather report. "We're watching what sauce we're going to be eaten with" jokes Julien.
Foils, safety and performance: technical answers between two laughs
Although the interview is intended to be offbeat, the two sailors don't lose their bearings. When asked about technological developments, they converge on one point: foils. Not just for speed, but also for stability and safety. "Boats sail flatter, it's less heeled, more stable. And therefore safer" sums up Julien.
Simple pleasures and sharing the sea
At sea, comfort is rare, but pleasures are multiplied tenfold. A square of chocolate on the night shift. A sunrise at 35 knots. A Springsteen headset. And always, the complicity of the pair. Even the dream meals at the finish remain down-to-earth: a nice hot dish, a bit of shade, a cool drink.
First memories and inspiring sailors
Like many, it all started on an Optimist. "I felt like I was on an Ultim, says Anthony, recalling his first sprit sail. Julien recalls his first night alone convoying a Figaro. And when it comes to inspiration, Jack London is never far away, with South Sea Vagabond .
