INTERVIEW
He lost his historic partner. The Macif group announced last week that it would leave the Ultim circuit, which brings together the largest multihulls, at the same time ending its sponsorship of almost ten years with François Gabart, record holder for the solo round the world race. Guest of the "Big evening newspaper" of Europe 1 this Tuesday, the navigator returns on this suffered divorce, explains "to remain positive" and to want "to rebound".
"We lived 10 extraordinary years together"
"It is difficult because it is fast, but we lived 10 extraordinary years together, it is thanks to them [the Macif group, note] that I was able to live all these adventures", details a François Gabart while smile at the microphone of Europe 1. As a renowned competitor accustomed to facing difficulties, he prefers to "stay positive" and focus on his "great projects". Starting with the construction of his future maxi-trimaran, which is to be launched in the summer of 2021, on which he intends to circumnavigate the world as a crew at the end of the same year. "We have to rebuild a project around this new boat," he insists.
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Reorganize and rebound
Because what seems to hurt the skipper the most is the situation in which his company, Mer Concept, which has 57 employees, finds itself. "It is the most difficult thing to live, we had to have a very important contract on July 1, but we will not have it. If we do nothing we are clearly at risk", admits straight away the entrepreneur . But against bad luck good heart, he insists on wanting to reorganize, "imagine how to bounce back by taking advantage of this upheaval to [question] himself, and make a project in line with the world of tomorrow".
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