Christopher, how are you feeling with just a few days to go to the start?
Better and better! I qualified back in April when I sailed between Brest and New York. I chose that route, because the Route du Rhum is not my first solo race, but it is my first transatlantic race. Since I got back from this qualifying passage, I’ve done a lot of work and been out sailing a lot. I feel more and more at ease aboard the boat. The main difficulty is still finding the compromise between keeping everything together and achieving good performance. It is also difficult to know how far the other skippers are ready to go in terms of speed and risk-taking.

Indeed. Your rivals in the Route du Rhum are very experienced. How are you dealing with that?
I shall be the youngest entrant and the least experienced skipper. I’m going to find myself in the middle of a fleet of highly talented racers. But I think that’s good. Ending up in the middle of the fleet or a little bit further back is normal, as I’m not the favourite. If on the other hand, I’m up with the leaders, that would be quite a feat. So I’ve nothing to lose.

Are you aiming for any particular place?
My goal is to complete the race and sail the boat safely all the way to Pointe-à-Pitre. We’ve seen a lot of problems in major races in recent times. I shan’t be taking any unnecessary risks. After that, it is not easy to determine a clear goal. Finishing up in the top five would be a great result. In the Route du Rhum, anything is possible, as there are always a lot of unpredictable elements. What happens in the race is largely down to the weather.

How would you sum up the past two years spent alongside Marc Thiercelin in the DCNS talent search programme?
It’s been a very enriching experience. Marc passed on his know-how and knowledge of sailing, but also taught me a lot about communicating, and in particular how to deal with the media. I also learnt a lot about the technical and technological aspects. I’m used to sailing one design boats, so this wasn’t my area of expertise, so I had a lot of catching up to do. I learnt a lot being with Marc, but also from the members of the DCNS shore team. I spent some time with each of them. It was a fascinating part of the learning process.

What are the major differences between a one-design boat and an IMOCA?
I often like to say that it is rather like comparing a go-kart and a Formula 1 car. Before, I used to do go-karting. I tried to get the most out of my boat, even if it meant taking risks. On an IMOCA, the approach is somewhat different. You need to plan ahead, listen to the boat and manage how much risk you are willing to take. You learn too to be more creative, and find good ideas to improve the boat’s performance. There is greater scope for fine-tuning. An IMOCA is also physically more demanding. In the Solitaire du Figaro, for example, you need to work on your endurance and how to avoid falling asleep. Sailing on an IMOCA requires more power and commitment. That’s why I have spent a lot of time in the gym, with a physical trainer.

Is the Route du Rhum an end in itself or a means to an end, leading on for example to other projects like the Vendée Globe?
The Route du Rhum is the culmination of the Talent search programme. That has always been seen as the ultimate goal of these two years of learning. DCNS is currently thinking about what comes next in the project. But one thing is certain. I would like to take part one day in the Vendée Globe. If the opportunity arises in 2012, all the better. But I’m not ruling out taking part in 2016, as I’ve still got a lot to learn. I’m in no hurry! You need to be really well prepared to take part in such a demanding race. If I do line up for the start, it will be when conditions are just right and with a solid partner.