Vendée Globe

At the age of 32, the skipper of Farr designed Delta Dore is about to tackle his first solo round the world race. It may appear to be a leap into the unknown for a skipper more used to Figaro racing – he won the Solitaire du Figaro in 2005 and only moved up to his Open 60 in September 2006. But neither the duration nor the depth of the field appear to worry the Vendée Globe rookie, who appars very relaxed with just days remaining before the start.

This is your first Vendée Globe… what are the advantages and drawbacks of being a rookie?

“It's a breath of fresh air for me to be a rookie again. That hasn't been the case for me for several years. The advantage is that no one expects a rookie to do well and he doesn't set out with any preconceived ideas. Maybe we don't really have the blinkers on and are rather naïve and innocent, because that's how it feels for me today. I just can't wait to get out there for the start of this race. At the same time, I've never been down south of Cape Town, so all that will be new to me, but I don’t have too many worries, I don't feel apprehensive. But the drawback is that what you haven't seen, can affect you more, although it has often been a rookie that has won this race. So statistically, it doesn't look too bad for me” 

How do you feel with a week to go before the start?
“I'm feeling generally pretty relaxed. When I really get stuck into the weather charts, there will be a bit more pressure. We're going to be looking at the strategy for the first few days and deciding which sails we will need for the start. At the same time, there are all the demands from the media. Delta Dore are coming here with their clients. Throughout the week, they'll be visiting the boat. In between all that, I'm going to have to find the time to grab a little rest and spend some time with the family.”

What does the weather look like for the start?
“A couple of days ago, I took a look at the weather charts, which didn't look very good, so after then I thought I'd keep away from them. But from what I've seen, it looks like being a low for the start, so we can look forward to waves smashing into us.”

Inside your Delta Dore, there are photos of mushrooms, poppies and wheat…
“I would have preferred some fresh mushrooms on board! But the idea of all that is that it offers me a reminder of nature and the countryside, a way to clear my head.”
 

What other ways of clearing your head and de-stressing will you take?
“Anne, my wife, is looking for a couple of books and then there will be some music and a few little nice things to eat. Then, there is the phone and Internet to change my ideas, and I shall be writing things down.”

What would you be satisfied with at the end of this race?
“I'm expecting the boat to be reliable and take me all the way, because we've done a lot of work on her. I just hope that all the hard work will bring the rewards. Then, I want to sail cleanly, not make any major mistakes in my weather strategy; establish a steady pace, which doesn't necessarily mean being up at the front all the time. What is really important in this race is finding just how much you can put your foot down and push. Does that mean pushing hard from the outset and then easing off a little afterwards? Does it mean being radical in your choices or do you win by making small gains here and there? To be honest, I ask myself that very question. And with the gates that have been put in place, I think the rankings will be shaken up again and again. It won't be over until the end. My personal goal is to try to be in the first five. And if you are in the first five close to the finish, recent experience shows that there is still everything to play for..”

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