A start like no other, behind closed doors
“The atmosphere will have nothing to do with previous editions on Sunday, especially in the morning on the pontoons and along the channel.
This very special spectacle that I had the chance to experience eight years ago, sailors will not be entitled to it.
It's pretty terrible because a lot of people participate in this race for that too.
Some only experience it once in their life and even for those who have already experienced it three or four times, it is still extraordinary.
I think it will be easier to manage for the skippers who are there to win, they will be in the race quickly.
"This race will do us all good"
The public and all of us enthusiasts would also have preferred a lively start but you have to see the positive.
Despite the circumstances, we are lucky to have a race that will go almost normally.
We are happy that this Vendée Globe is leaving, with great stories to read, listen to and watch over the next few months.
It will do us all good.
Fingers crossed so that there can be spectators at the arrivals and as many boats as possible to complete the loop without too much damage or problem.
We have enough on the ground like that! ”
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His favorites
“It's extremely difficult to come up with three names but since you have to get wet, I would say Charal, Apivia and Hugo Boss in the order you want (smile).
Three great boats with three great sailors.
I am not objective because I am clearly involved in a project, that of Charlie Dalin (Apivia was designed with the offshore racing team of François Gabart Mer Concept, Editor's note).
So I will experience the race by proxy through him.
Jérémie (Beyou) showed that he was very, very strong by winning the two pre-season races (Vendée-Arctic-Les Sables and Défi Azimut).
He is quite a contender like Alex Thomson, another particularly seasoned favorite.
But other boats can win.
I am thinking of LinkedOut and Thomas Rettant or the Kouyoumdjian plans (Arkea-Paprec, Corum-L'Epargne) which unfortunately we haven't seen much for due to lack of time or due to damage.
But history shows that the underdogs can win.
Eight years ago, the favorites were Vincent Riou, Jean-Pierre Dick and Armel Le Cléac'h.
I was one of the outsiders (smile).
That's the whole point of this exciting race. ”
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Charlie Dalin, a good winner's face
“Charlie has all the keys to shine in this Vendée Globe.
He is a great sailor, his career on the Figaro circuit and in Imoca has shown it with an already extraordinary track record.
He is a very complete sailor, a lover of boats and technology, an engineer.
We meet quite a bit on that.
He has spent an enormous amount of time designing and building this boat that he knows very well.
He's a rookie, so he has things to discover but he already knows the problem of ocean racing.
It gives me great pleasure to accompany him in the preparation of this Vendée Globe.
We are super happy with what we have managed to do so far and we are proud of the boat as it is moored there in Les Sables.
I hope it goes well for him. "
The construction of its trimaran Ultim and its search for partners
“
Containment does not block us too much in terms of production, whether with us or with suppliers.
The boat is taking shape (launch planned for June 2021, editor's note).
I spend a lot of time on the economic assembly of the project which is not finalized.
It's a big part of my job today.
Things are going pretty well but there is still a long way to go.
These are very ambitious and complicated projects to set up.
All the leads I have had remain open.
Even if there is nothing to finalize today I have no "no", the doors open.
And until they are closed to me permanently, I will continue to open them (smile).
I am confident in the long term but realistic in the short term.
We are in a complicated situation from an economic point of view.
But this phase that we are living causes a need for transformation in the boxes in terms of communication, which is quite favorable for new projects.
Even if it is not easy when all the people are confined. ”
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