After winning the Transat 6.50, then the Route du Rhum aboard a Class 40 boat, the sailor Thomas Ruyant is lining up this year in the demanding Figaro-Bénéteau circuit in order to make progress towards his goal of taking part in the Vendée Globe in 2012 or 2016. Thomas Ruyant is therefore looking for partners to be able to tackle the Everest of the Seas. We met up with him to talk about his plans.
Thomas, why did you decide to take part in the Figaro circuit?
Thomas Ruyant: “This is a great series which enables you to compete against the best. The world’s leading solo sailors have sailed in the Figaro circuit. So it seemed like an interesting thing for me to do after my experiences in the Mini 6.50 races and the Class 40 circuit. It’s important for me from a technical perspective and will allow me to continue to progress.”
Do you think the Figaro circuit is a vital step before entering the world of IMOCA racing?
T.R: “It’s interesting, but it’s not compulsory. My own career path shows that you don’t have to sail for ten years in the Figaro class and win the Solitaire to hope to be able to compete in the IMOCA circuit. There are various paths that lead to the Vendée Globe.”
What attracts you to the IMOCA circuit?
T.R: “The technical aspects interested me when I sailed in my Mini 6.50 but this was less important in the Class 40 circuit. The 60-foot IMOCA boats make me dream. I have been lucky enough to sail alongside them on several occasions, and I’ve always been impressed by their performance. So I really want to compete in this circuit. The extreme aspect of the Vendée Globe also attracts me. It is a race that requires commitment and forces you to push yourself to the limits and beyond, and that’s something I like.”
Have you already sailed aboard a 60-foot IMOCA boat?
T.R: “No, but I think with all my experiences in the 6.50 boat and in Class 40, that will help me get to grips with the boat. IMOCA boats are technical and therefore complicated and it will take me a while to get used to them. My goal is to sail in a 60-foot boat as soon as I can. That’s why I’ll be sailing back one of the boats in the Barcelona World Race (Editor’s note: Boris Herrmann and Ryan Breymaier’s Neutrogena).”
How far have you got in your search for partners for the Vendée Globe?
T.R: “The work is ongoing, but it is not easy as the budgets are so big. It looks like taking part in the 2012 Vendée Globe will be very complicated, as I don’t yet have a partner. The clock is ticking, but I haven’t given up hope. My real goal is the 2016 Vendée Globe but if I do get the chance to take part in 2012, I’ll be very pleased about that!”
How much time have you given yourself to take part in 2012?
T.R: "The real must in the 2011 season is the Transat Jacques Vabre in October. It will be vital to take part in this race, if I want to think about doing the 2012 Vendée Globe. If not, I’ll be concentrating on the following edition.”
Are your current partners (Dunkerque Communauté Urbaine and Faber France) helping you look for the funding?
T.R: "Yes, they are. I’m lucky to have some loyal partners following me to the Figaro circuit. They don’t have the means to take on bigger projects, but they are helping me in my search for the Vendée Globe. Their support is very useful.”
Isn’t it rather difficult sailing and searching for partners?
T.R: "The schedule is fairly full. For the moment, I’m focusing on my Figaro season and I’m trying not to have too much on my plate. The priority is to continue to sail and clock up the miles, as I certainly don’t want to spend all my time ashore hoping to find a hypothetical sponsor. But I’m not neglecting this search for partners either. I can rely on a few people to help me in this work. I really believe that it is possible to combine sailing and searching for sponsors as getting good results out on the water could well open up some doors.”
