JP, why did you choose Yann as your co-skipper?
JP: “Sailing double-handed, when I’m sleeping the most important thing is trusting the man at the helm and his ability to deal with any situation alone. Yann has a very different background from me, which only strengthens our partnership in this race. His instincts complement my rational approach. We had the opportunity to work with Yann in the 2014 Route du Rhum, when he took the helm of the MOD70 Paprec Recyclage. I like his frankness and his never give up approach.”
How did you feel when JP offered you this opportunity?
Yann: “I thought I was incredibly lucky. It’s an honour to sail with someone with such a long list of successes sailing double-handed. He works hard and is tough. You can count on him and don’t have to worry about his commitment. He has a very rational approach to sailing. He has made some bold design choices, has acquired a wealth of experience and has become a top class sailor moving to this life late on. I have a lot of respect for people like him, who are able to do things differently taking a different career path from others to find their place.”
© Y.Zedda/StMichel-VirbacWhat is your sailing programme?
JP: “We’ll begin our offshore training in July to take part in the Rolex Fastnet Race in August, then we’ll work on training together in September and October. Before that, Yann will be competing in the Solitaire du Figaro, while I’ll be training on StMichel-Virbac and other boats.”
Source : StMichel-Virbac Sailing Team
