Sébastien SIMON ARKEA PAPREC

1^st participation

30 years old

Les Sables d'Olonne 85 - Concarneau 29

View prize list

Achievements

2019

Bermudes 1000 Race, 1st

2018

Figaro
1^st French Championship Elite off-shore racing
1^st Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro
1^st Le Havre AllMer Cup
2^nd Transat AG2R La Mondiale
2^nd Solo Maître Coq
5^th Solo Concarneau
7^th Solo Normandie

2017

Figaro
3^rd French Championship Elite off-shore racing
4^th Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro
2^nd Solo Normandie
2^nd Solo Maître Coq
2^nd Tour de Bretagne
6^th Douarnenez Fastnet Solo
10^th Solo Concarneau

2016

Figaro Beneteau
5^th French Championship Elite off-shore racing
11^th La Solitaire Bompard Le Figaro
2^nd Solo Concarneau
4^th Transat AG2RLa Mondiale
5^th Douarnenez Horta Solo
13^th Le Havre All Mer Cup

2015

Figaro
10^th French Championship Elite off-shore racing
33^th Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bompard Cachemire
4^th Generali Solo
5^th Solo Duo Basse Normandie
8^th Solo Concarneau
8^th Tour de Bretagne
11^th Solo Figaro Maître Coq

2014

Figaro
20^th French Championship Elite off-shore racing
33^th Solitaire du Figaro - Eric Bompard Cachemire
10^th Lorient Horta Solo
10^th Solo Concarneau
16^th Solo Maître Coq
18^th Le Havre Allmer Cup

2013

Figaro : 1^st Challenge Espoir Bretagne - Crédit Mutuel
3^rd World Championship 420
16^th World Championship J80
5^th French Championship J80

2012

M34
5^th French Championship off-shore racing in crew
6^th Tour de France à la Voile

Portrait

It is when you reach a milestone that you can set new ambitions. With a victory in total control on the Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro 2018, Sébastien Simon was able to look ahead to the perspective of taking the start of the Vendée Globe. But for this natural born competitor, it was out of the question to compete without having a chance for the podium. Thus, Sébastien has gathered around him what he believes to be the winning assets : a new boat designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian (also known as Juan K), advice from Vincent Riou - a perfectly trained technical director and also winner of the 2004-2005 edition, and also the support of the Pôle Finistère Course au large, a real producer of champions.

While waiting to take control of his new boat, Sébastien Simon is training on the former PRB boat. After trying to beat the record on the Route de la Découverte together with Vincent Riou, he took the boat back in solo conditions to refine his knowledge of IMOCAs. At the same time, the Arkéa Paprec team chose to assemble the boat on its own premises after having delegated the construction of the hull to the CDK shipyard. This original approach has enabled Sébastien to follow the finishing touch of his new tool step-by-step and master its most intimate corners. An approach which should please this graduate engineer passionate about cutting-edge techonology.

Although living in Concarneau to follow the construction of the monohull boat closely, Sébastien will feel a twinge of melancholy when he goes down the channel of Les Sables d’Olonne. Because it is here that he has lived and learned with the Sports Nautiques Sablais. So, when the boy from town gets set to take the start, many admirers will no doubt be focusing on him.

IMOCA monohull

ARKEA PAPREC

While waiting to take control of his latest generation IMOCA next summer, Sébastien Simon is sailing on a Verdier – VPLP design developed for Vincent Riou for the Vendée Globe 2012. Although unlucky during the last two editions when it had to retire after hitting UFOs twice, this monohull arrived in fourth position in the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2013 and 2015, and, more recently, fourth in the last Route du Rhum. Well-built, the monohull has rejuvenated with the addition of foils in 2017. It will be present at the start of the Vendée Globe but at the hands of Kevin Escoffier who will take over and wear PRB’s colours around the world. It’s strange, here we speak of it as “Kevin’s boat…”

ARKEA PAPREC