How did this latest pairing come about?

- Jean-Pierre Dick : When Loïck was taking part in the America’s Cup with Alinghi, I invited him to come and join me in the Barcelona World Race. He was very interested in this project. For Loïck, this round the world race comes between two America’s Cup adventures and I’m pleased he was able to accept my proposition.

- Loïck Peyron : I accepted immediately, as we know each other well and last time we worked together, it turned out to be a rather good result. And then, he’s got a great boat and his team has done a fine job.

In your opinion, which is the most difficult? A solo or double-handed race around the world?
- J-P.D. : Both are obviously difficult, but not for the same reasons. When you’re alone, there’s an amazing psychological dimension, which complicates things, and that’s what you find in the Vendée Globe. You have to battle against yourself, fight your own demons. When sailing double-handed, there is a dialogue between two human beings and the main difficulty is in how to resolve any problems in understanding each other.
- L.P : Physically, it is of course not as tough, when you’re sailing double-handed. But taking into account the length of the race, managing two people involved in a joint effort is naturally a tricky affair. When you’re alone on board, you can only blame yourself. When you’re with someone else, you have to share the responsibility. The human factor is a vital element. But as I have often said, things usually work out fine between two people, who have been brought up correctly.

Loïck, the Barcelona World Race marks your return to IMOCA racing. How are you tackling this return to ocean racing?

- L.P : Calmly, as it’s a gentle return. Unlike Jean-Pierre, I am not in charge of a project from A to Z. I was twenty years ago in the first Vendée Globe and more recently with Gitana Eighty. This time I was lucky enough to be invited along and my return to IMOCA racing does not entail such long term commitment.

Are you pleased with Virbac-Paprec 3’s performance?
- J.-P. D. : My initial impressions were good and she’s a well built boat. She’s fast and seems sturdy. But we saw in the Route du Rhum that a lot of boats offer similar performance capabilities. Our team has worked flat out to try to correct the electrical problems we had in the Rhum.

- L.P. : Virbac-Paprec 3 is a pretty baby. Each year, we think we have reached the peak of what is possible technologically and in terms of performance. But all the time the bar is raised and things evolve, both concerning the technology itself and how we use it. We are very lucky to be living at a time when there is such incredible progress being made. Jean-Pierre’s new boat is very interesting from that perspective.

Jean-Pierre, 2010 was a particularly busy year for you and a real race against the clock began after the Rhum. Why did you make this choice?

- J.-P. D. : I was pleased to have such a busy year, as it took a long time to build my new boat. A boat is made to be sailed and staying in port is no good to anyone. I would have liked to have gained more experience racing with Virbac-Paprec 3 before the Route du Rhum. The delivery trip from New Zealand taught me a lot, but it’s not the same thing as racing. That is why an event like the Barcelona World Race is important. Three years ago, it took place just a year before the Vendée Globe, and the problem then was resting between the two round the world voyages. This time, it will be a matter of not forgetting (Editor’s note-the start of the next Vendée Globe will be in two years time on 11th November 2012).

Is the Vendée Globe still your ultimate goal?
- J.-P. D. : That is indeed the main objective of this project for the next two years. It is thanks to all the coverage in this event that I found my sponsors. And personally, the Vendée Globe is the race which allowed me to enter the world of professional racing. I had dreamt of taking part and I was lucky to get a chance in 2004-2005 and 2008-2009. My next dream is to win it and it is with this goal in mind that I’ll be there at the start in two years time in Les Sables-d’Olonne.

Loïck, will you returning to the Vendée Globe?
- L.P. : It’s always a possibility, but unfortunately, there comes a point when physically you just can’t do it. Already, it’s not that easy sailing double-handed and when you’re sailing single-handed that complicates matters still further. I’m afraid that for physical reasons, I am going to have to say stop. Sailing around the world is not that complicated, but trying to win is much more difficult. For the moment, I don’t feel like taking part if I am not fully motivated to win. The day will come when I’ll be happy enough just to sail around the world for the pleasure of doing it and seeing the albatrosses, but I haven’t yet reached that point.