Le Figaro. - How was the confinement then the deconfinement?
Charlie Dalin . - The containment went well. I adapted to the situation. In terms of preparing for the Vendée Globe, the advantage is that there are a lot of things to do in front of the computer. I was able to progress on the issues of performance, food and I did a lot of sport. I managed to take advantage of the family in anticipation of the recovery that was on the way. So I lived this particular period rather well.
Shouldn't you be unhappy to get back on track?
Obviously, it feels good to find the sensations, to resume the program. Obviously two months late, the recovery period was very busy in terms of navigation and work on the boat. I had to sail a fortnight and spend eleven nights at sea in June. It is an intense and enriching period. We were finally able to perform and we made good progress.
»READ ALSO - The sailors of the Vendée Globe set sail for the Arctic with their fangs
What do you expect from the Vendée-Arctic-Les Sables d'Olonne race?
It's my first solo race in Imoca, it's not nothing. So I'm going to look for a lot of answers on race management, pace, changes of sails. It is a good test for me, for my functioning on the boat. It is also a good overview compared to the competition. Even if some say that they will go easy, I know that we are all competitors. And if we train 80%, we will be 80% in competition. It is important to do this race in the true rhythm. It will be used to continue making the boat more reliable and to validate the Vendée Globe's supplies and my sleep recording system.
If you won after winning the last Transat Jacques Vabre (in double with Yann Eliès), you would find yourself in the category of big favorites for the Vendée Globe…
My project is ambitious. I am lucky to have a boat built for this edition of the Vendée Globe. And it's important to be at the start in a position that allows me to win it. Afterwards, we know the vagaries of a world tour. I know that I still have a lot to discover on my boat but I would like to make at least a podium on this Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables. I trust my platform, it is proven.
Need advice on packing? @CharlieDalin shows us how to take the bare
essentials for 12 days of travel # VendéeArctique | @ApiviaMutuelle | @ Apivia_courtagepic.twitter.com / O2iv7QcAfi
The victory in the Transat Jacques Vabre changed what for you?
She gave confidence in the way of doing, the operation and the philosophy of the project. We often say that we learn more in defeat but I often question myself and we looked for the negatives to continue to progress.
Your Imoca monohulls have become extremely physical…
We went a long way with the new foils. We are going much faster than before. And that comes at a price. The shocks are very violent. I'm not surprised, but we'll have to deal with it. You have to be in shape with large postural muscles. The unknown of the next Vendée Globe will be the ability of sailors to keep pace alone.
"A reward to relive these almost nightless days"
Charlie DalinHow do you imagine this Vendée-Arctic-Les Sables race?
It's pretty magical if you get to the very top, near Iceland. I lived a little over a year in Stockholm and it will be the reward of reliving these almost nightless days. After the race looks much more difficult than a transatlantic to the West Indies. It will be started. Because we are going to spend our time going through weather systems, which means incessant changes in wind direction and force and therefore also maneuvers and changes of sails. It's going to be a tiring race.
All the favorites of the Vendée Globe are at the start, except for the Welshman Alex Thomson…
History repeats itself. Before the last Vendée globe, it almost sank during the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 and its rivals only discovered its performance at the start of the Vendée Globe. This will still be the case this year. Thomson, it will be the unknown…
»READ ALSO - Armel Tripon successfully completed an improbable commando mission for the Vendée Globe
Are you in a hurry to get back to competition?
Yes I am looking forward. I am in lack of competition and confrontation. Even if the pre-race was special, without the usual indicators that a big event is coming, since we had to stay in quarantine in our respective ports, we had to implement this well defined protocol. Guarantees had to be provided before a race could take place. It was important for us to be able to start competing again before the Vendée Globe…
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- Vendée Globe sailors set sail for the Arctic with their fangs
