Transat Jacques-Vabre: the unprecedented challenge of Armel Le Cléac'h and Kevin Escoffier

Gauthier Delomez 7:30 a.m., November 7, 2021

Back in the deep end for Armel Le Cléac'h and Kevin Escoffier.

One year after the Vendée Globe, the skippers will take part in duo in the 15th edition of the Transat Jacques-Vabre which starts this Sunday at 13:27 precisely.

This race will link the port of Le Havre to the city of Fort-de-France, in Martinique, and it marks the reappearance of the Ultimate category, in which the two skippers are involved.

On Europe 1, Armel Le Cléac'h and Kevin Escoffier do not hide their enthusiasm for starting this new adventure.

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"The type of weather forecast that is clear at the start suits us perfectly"

Among the large trimarans at the start of the race, the Banque Populaire XI will be led by two experienced skippers. "The pressure is slowly building. We are starting to have a little more precision on the weather. We can not wait to leave with Kevin," said Armel Le Cléac'h. "For the moment, the weather is rather favorable. Departures in November are often very sporty. With a recent boat, the type of weather which seems to be becoming clearer suits us perfectly", continues his colleague Kevin Escoffier, saved from the waters last year in the Vendée Globe.

The two engineers have already experienced the loss of one of their boat in the middle of the race.

For Armel Le Cléac'h, it was on the Route du Rhum in 2018. But the two sailors want to turn the page this year thanks to a very efficient type of trimaran.

"For a few years now, these boats have been able to 'fly'. We deploy wings under the hull that allow you to get out of the water and accelerate, to have quite impressive speeds", explains Armel Le Cléac'h. , who confided in measuring "the chance of being able to sail on these boats because we can cross the Atlantic in less than a week, go around the world in less than 40 days ... But that takes preparation time" .

A new boat launched only six months ago

Preparation time, perhaps one of the most restrictive parameters for both browsers. Their boat was launched for the first time last April. In total, they had six months to learn to tame their machine. "It's a bit short," recognizes Armel Le Cléac'h. "It was the expected time, we knew it. These giants of the sea take a long time to build. It represents two years of construction for a boat which is 32 meters long by 23 wide. But we have not been idle," he emphasizes.

An observation shared by Kevin Escoffier: "We would always like to have more time to discover and optimize the boat. But, we really used the time to the maximum of what we could do. We have sailed a lot, so I feel ready. to go back with Armel, we are very happy to go ”.

"My first big race on a superb boat", admits Armel Le Cléac'h

For the Transat Jacques-Vabre, the five skipper duos in the Ultimate category will have to make a detour off Brazil before reaching Martinique.

"We are going to double the number of miles the boat has made since it was launched. So we are going with certain certainties, but we will continue to discover it, to make it more reliable," says Kevin Escoffier.

The two very friendly sailors, who have worked together in the past, are among the favorites in their category.

"I am very happy to be setting off with Kevin because it is my first big race on a superb boat", admits Armel Le Cléac'h, enthusiastic: "I hope that we will be able to make a great race experience with as many people as possible. people who will support us during the two weeks of the race ".