For the first time since his debut in the professional circuit of sailing competitions, Martin Le Pape will take the start of the 12th edition of the Route du rhum, in the Class40 category.
The legendary solo transatlantic race takes place every four years.
The start will be given on November 6 from Saint-Malo, bound for Guadeloupe, with 6560 km to cover.
It is aboard his boat in the colors of the Stargardt Foundation, a Clak40, that this young thirty-year-old, just a father, will realize one of his dreams, and compete with the biggest names in sailing, in particular Armel Le Cléac'h, François Gabart, Roland Jourdain, Charlie Dalin.
They will be 138 at the start, competing in various boat categories.
Martin Le Pape will sail in the colors of the Stargardt Foundation, which brings together and federates people with Stargardt disease, a rare ophthalmic disease characterized by progressive loss of vision.
DR
“I have chosen to highlight the Stargardt Foundation, which brings together and federates people with Stargardt disease, a rare ophthalmic disease characterized by progressive loss of vision.
I have several patrons who have followed me for a few years, in particular Bellocq Paysages and SEMACQ, without whom I would not have been able to realize my dreams", underlines Martin Le Pape, a sportsman emeritus in various disciplines but who, from his childhood, was almost predestined to enter the closed world of professional sailors.
Martin was four years old when his father, Christian Le Pape, founded the Pôle Finistère Course au Large in Port-la-Forêt.
A real breeding ground for future sailing world champions.
Like father, like son…
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Martin Le Pape began with windsurfing at the age of 5: “I remember my father who remained seated on his towel at the beach while I was windsurfing.
As it bothered him to constantly go to get me offshore, my board was connected to an anchor, with about fifteen meters of chains and I circled around the anchor!
Martin started competing in windsurfing at the age of 10, winning the prestigious title of Champion of Brittany twice, a title of vice-champion of France and a 5th place in the World Championship for young people.
Five crossings of the Atlantic
At the age of 17, abandoning windsurfing, he set up a J80 crew.
He won the Tour de France sailing four times.
In 2014, he crossed the Atlantic with Roland Jourdain during the Transat en Figaro l'Ag2R.
“It launched my professional offshore racing career.
The duo finished in fourth place.
The same year, Martin le Pape joined the Pôle Finistère alongside the greatest.
“My father never really pushed me to follow in his footsteps but he was always proud of my progress.
Martin Le Pape will follow the Solitaire du Figaro circuit for seven years, take part in four Transats Ag2R, one Transat Jacques Vabre and cross the Atlantic five times.
: " We never tire.
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“Eric Bellion and I are going to set up the first sailing stable”
Skipper Martin Le Pape
After this race, Martin set himself another challenge: the Vendée Globe.
“To participate, there is no sponsor.
And you have to build a boat.
With Jean Le Cam and Éric Bellion, we had an idea: to build the same boat, available three times, an IMOCA, without a foil.
A simpler project but which can be a winner.
This will allow an economy of scale.
Then, Eric and I are going to join forces to obtain the same sponsors with the same boats in order to set up the first sailing team.
They want to reproduce the Formula 1 scheme with two pilots on identical boats.
An ambitious project to follow very closely.
