Axel May, edited by Colin Abgrall 06h00, 06 November 2021

At just 19 years old, Martin Louchart will compete in his second Transat Jacques-Vabre.

At 26, his partner Clara Fortin will accompany him for the first time.

They had promised themselves, it is now a reality: they will be at the start of this legendary transatlantic race which starts this Sunday from Le Havre.

This Sunday, the 15th edition of the Transat Jacques-Vabre starts from the Paul Vatine basin, a former skipper who disappeared during the 4th edition, in 1999, from Le Havre.

The various arrivals should be made 10 to 15 days later in Fort-de-France in Martinique.

The race brings together several classes of boats, of different sizes and speeds, each of which has a precise route to reach the Martinique coast.

Granvillais Martin Louchart and Clara Fortin, 19 and 26, will finally realize their project that began two years ago.

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A project built from scratch

In 2019, Martin, 17, became the youngest skipper in history to participate in the Transat Jacques-Vabre. He finished 18th in the Class40 race, a category of monohull boats. "The sooner you do it, the more chance you have of making podiums quickly," he thinks. "Me, I did it really early." Clara, she had stayed on the platform that day, but they made a promise to leave together in 2021.

Something promised, something due, the Manchois will be at the start of the "coffee route" on Sunday.

The story is already beautiful, but it is even more so when we know that they have set up this project themselves.

Martin, upon his return from the 2019 Transat, created his company called "Exsailance".

Clara, a work-study worker in her companion's company, created her association.

This allowed them to finance this project, namely to find a boat and partners.

"We do not go unnoticed"

Here is their Class40, called "Randstad-Ausy", ready to use.

The youngest pair of the race is of course very watched.

"We hear 'daycare' or 'youngsters'. It makes us laugh because we know that we do not go unnoticed," observes Clara Fortin.

"We're not going to win this Jacques-Vabre there, but maybe in 2, 4 or 6 years… What do we know?"

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Last unusual detail about this couple, and not the least: Clara suffers from hemophilia, a blood clotting abnormality.

In other words, the slightest injury can turn into a hemorrhage.

So she wears a helmet in strong winds and wears knee pads on the boat almost all of the time.

The Jacques-Vabre is therefore a real challenge for her in more than one way.

But despite the difficulties, on November 7, Clara Fortin and Martin Louchart will take the start.

For once, all eyes will be on the favorites and sailing stars, but also on this couple, determined to write the history of this race.