Transat Jacques Vabre: a first for Anthony Marchand

Though Giancarlo Pedote is preparing to take part in the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie - Le Havre for the third time after two previous participations in 2015 and then 2017, his co-skipper, Anthony Marchand, is preparing to line up for the race start for the very first time. The sailor from northern Brittany is not feeling apprehensive however as he’s used to top-level competition and major events. “With just a few days to go till the start, I’m not fearful or anxious, just excited. I’ve very happy to be doing the race with Giancarlo and to be racing in IMOCA given that I have set my sights on participating in the Vendée Globe 2024. I’m also after good results as I don’t just want to race an IMOCA for the sake of it. Prysmian Group is a foiler and though she’s certainly not from the very latest generation, she’s a fine boat with which we hope to achieve great things”, explains Anthony, who’s delighted about the exercise that awaits him, though he’s all too aware that it’s no mean feat. “A transatlantic passage is no picnic and, to my mind, racing in double-handed format is harder than in solo, especially in terms of sleep. You benefit from more sleep when there are two of you that’s for sure, but the sleep is hard to manage as it’s very fragmented and very repetitive as you generally operate a 1-hour watch system. You have to get into a rhythm for that”, explains the sailor, who clearly knows what he’s talking about since he’s racked up three Transat AG2R La Mondiales. “Right now, I’m really keen to get out to sea. I hope the weather will favour our boat. For now, if we’re to believe the latest grib files, we’re likely to have a downwind VMG (Velocity Made Good indicating the speed of a yacht towards or from the direction of the wind) at the start and then an upwind VMG. The situation is still moving around a lot and things may yet change, which I hope will be the case as a fairly strong reach would suit us”, concludes Anthony Marchand.