Vendée Globe - Past winners become coaches (part 2)
Thursday 04 April 2019, 15H37
Thursday 04 April 2019, 15H37
The past winners are François Gabart, Alain Gautier, Armel Le Cléac'h, Michel Desjoyeaux and Vincent Riou. The common theme is that they are all past winners of the Vendée Globe and now they are all engaged in coaching, mentoring or project management for up and coming talents.
Charlie Dalin, Sébastien Simon and Nicolas Troussel all tasted high levels of succss on the Figaro circuit before graduating to their respective new IMOCA projects. All are hard driving solo skippers, whose raw talent has been proven. Now in the quest for perfection and tro return a potentially Vendée Globe winning performance they have each aligned themselves with past champions.
François Gabart, the collaborative way
One Ultim, two Figaro, one IMOCA. That is the MACIF insurance group's fleet which is managed by François Gabart who became the youngest winner of the Vendée Globe in 2012.
"When it came to 'integrating Apivia, Charlie Dalin's project, we wondered about the best possible support strategy. After discussion with Charlie, we decided that the most effective plan was to mobilise the team that had worked on our winning programme for the Vendée Globe 2012. But we wanted to go further. Charlie and his team are involved in all the decisions of Mer Concept. We are more of a collaborative, interactive management than to a simple vertical, top down transmission of ideas and planning. The idea here is that everyone can contribute to the development of the various projects as they progress all the way through. That is on the project management side but there is the ongoing advice and ideas that François Gabart brings to Charlie Dalin all the time on an informal basis. "It is things like Charlie has never been to the Southern Ocean and so I try to help with the ideas and questions he might be asking himself.
It is important for Southampton trained naval architect Dalin that his strengths and background are part of the mix. "It was important for me to be on a lateral, collaborative project. I think this is the best way to get the best from everyone. There are differences in the way you manage and build an IMOCA now and an Ultim. We talk about electronics, energy management, pilots, the problems that may happen and try to circumvent them. . And here with Mer Concept, one can develop dedicated design office roles which could not exist in a typical single project IMOCA team. And my training as an architect is integrated and key in this team. It is very stimulating to work in this environment. "
Michel Desjoyeaux: one track
Between Michel Desjoyeaux and Nicolas Troussel the relationship is based on he design and build of his boat. "For now, Nicolas just asked us to build his monohull for the Vendée Globe. Knowing that he is on a particularly tight schedule, we try to put all we have learned into refining the project and keeping it on schedule. We are at the beginning of our collaboration; the idea is to find a mix of our different ideas and opinions. It is the same for Nicolas Troussel: "For the moment, the contract with Mer Agitée is limited to the construction of the boat. It will give us time to get to know each other better, to see if we still want to go on together once the boat is on the water. Our shared desire is to build a high-performance boat working closely with Juan K. The three cornered team formed by Corum, the Mer Agitée and the architect share the objective to win, and together and individually we can't hope for anything better than that."
Vincent Riou, input at all levels.
Current La Solitaire du Figaro champion Sébastien Simon and his mentor/project manager Vincent Riou have just crossed the Atlantic in pursuit of the the Route of Discovery monohull record. The reference time escaped them by a few hours.
"The goal is that Sébastien learns to work the boat safely and efficiently with good processes and techniques. And I enjoy seeing him learn and improve with the current boat which in itself is quite technical. After this Seb will sail 'solo' back to Brittany before participating in the Bermuda 1000 Race.
"I think I will be one of those who will have sailed the most miles at the start of that race. And I want to be there with a chance to perform, nor just to be there to learn. "
From the design office to sailing together, the relationship between them strengthens.
Simon says, " I am so pleased at the way things are going. One of the initial things I went to Vincent for was that I felt that the technical and financial aspects of a project like this were such that I absolutely had to rely on someone with experience. Vincent had the right profile. In addition, I respected and liked him as a person. That's how the story started. And in fact as he was on board that actually secured my project with my partners."
In July, Sébastien Simon take charge of his new machine. Vincent's IMOCA will be in the hands of Kevin Escoffier who will race in the colours of PRB in the next Vendée Globe. So a new technological adventure for Arkéa-Paprec looking to be on the podium and the PRB story goes on.
Ti Potrebbe Interessare Anche
Yacht Club Imperia: numeri in crescita per la seconda edizione della Locauto Eurocup...
Numeri in aumento per l'edizione 2024 della Locato Eurocup WASZP, evento di cartello organizzato dallo Yacht Club Imperia in collaborazione con Drylaps,...
37^ America's Cup: i ''Maghi'' si comportano bene con il moto ondoso
Con Barcellona che sta attraversando l'inizio della primavera, mentre i sistemi meteorologici inclementi in arrivo dall'Atlantico e dal Mediterraneo tengono...
Ocean Globe Race: finalmente verso casa la Mcintyre OGR
La flotta che attraversa l'Equatore lotta per ogni miglio nella quarta tappa McIntyre OGR. Il sole cocente brucia i marinai. Un'altra settimana...
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda: aperte le iscrizioni alla Grand Soleil Cup 2024
Porto Cervo, 27 marzo 2024. La Grand Soleil Cup, evento riservato agli yacht a vela costruiti dal Cantiere del Pardo, ritorna a Porto Cervo in occasione...
Sardinia Cup 2024: conclusa la 39^ edizione. Tutti i vincitori
Conclusa la 39° edizione del Campionato Invernale, organizzato dal Circolo Velico Riminese. Un campionato non è solo regate. È...
Fraglia Vela Riva: 42mo Meeting del Garda Optimist, Riva del Garda si prepara per...
Riva del Garda, 26 marzo 2024 - Si respira aria di vigilia presso la sede della Fraglia Vela Riva che, come sempre accade nella settimana...
Europei ILCA Under 21 2024: trionfi italiani a Maiorca
Si è concluso oggi, a Maiorca, il Campionato Europeo ILCA Under 21, evento che ha visto la partecipazione di 201 velisti provenienti da 35 nazioni. L'Italia...
La Direzione Tecnica indica due atleti per i Giochi Olimpici di Parigi 2024
Il Direttore Tecnico della Federazione Italiana Vela Michele Marchesini ha reso noti i nominativi dei due atleti che proporrà al prossimo Consiglio...
La Grand Soleil Cup 2024 si prepara per il grande ritorno in Costa Smeralda
Cantiere del Pardo è lieto di annunciare il ritorno della Grand Soleil Cup, che si terrà dal 21 al 23 giugno 2024, nelle acque cristalline...