“
I'm going there with a lot of desire.
I'm stamping
”.
Reached by Le Figaro a few hours before the big departure off Saint-Malo, this Wednesday at the start of the afternoon, Thomas Coville seems relaxed.
It's not easy when you take the helm of a 32-meter flying Ultim trimaran and especially when you're running behind this multihull victory that has been refused for so many years (3rd in 2018, 2010, 2006, retirement in 2014).
And yet the skipper of
Sodebo Ultim 3
knows the path to triumph taken in 1998 on an Imoca monohull.
“
I'm much calmer than before the other editions,
he confirms
.
I really put less pressure on myself.
Four years ago, the speed gap with the favorite boat made me think that you had to be extreme to successfully catch her.
It was a mistake that made me snap
(even though he managed to finish to climb on the third place on the podium).
There I am more lucid, I have tools on board to better measure the constraints on the platform and the difference between the boats is less.
We have really made progress in the last few months.
And on the Route du rhum, each time the favorite did not win
”.
Navigation errors
His results in previous races do not seem to worry him and he prefers to point out errors in the navigation choices rather than a serious speed deficit.
“
Edmond de Rothschild
(Charles Caudrelier)
, Banque Populaire
(Armel Le Cléac'h)
and Sodebo are now very close in terms of performance, even if Charles has a small advantage in light airs.
On the other hand, we don't really know for SVR-Lazartigue
(François Gabart)
as we didn't confront each other too much, but beyond the controversy, it's surely a fast boat
”.
A peaceful man
An experienced sailor, Thomas Coville left his mark on the planet by taking part in the Vendée Globe (6th in 2000-2001) and numerous record attempts around the world solo and with a crew (notably with Olivier de Kersauson and Franck Cammas ).
His Grail, he won it in 2016 by smashing Francis Joyon's solo round the world record by more than eight days (49 d 03 h 07 min 38 seconds).
And today, well past fifty (55 next May), the man is at peace.
Endearing, touching because always ready to confide his feelings, even the deepest ones.
"
It took me a while but I found a balance that suits me.
I am the sailor I wanted to be.
It is very pleasant to live and feel.
I've never experienced this before in my career as a sailor and it goes beyond the sporting side.
My children said to me: ''Dad, it's nice to see you like that''
”.
A kind of zenitude which very often in high-level sport becomes the key to opening the door to paradise, to triumph...
