Friday October 18, Port Olona, Les Sables-d'Olonne. On the eve of the opening of the Vendée Globe 2024 village, Sébastien Marsset welcomes all smiles on his Imoca Foussier. The 39-year-old from Nantes is happy to be there, satisfied to have acquired this first victory. Since purchasing his Farr plan in 2022, the man with three crewed world tours (two victories in the Volvo Ocean Race in 2011 and 2014 and a Jules Verne Trophy in 2016) has taken risks, particularly financial, to build your dream. Today they paid!
What are you looking for in the Vendée Globe?
It’s a question we often ask ourselves in the final moments. I have been racing offshore since 2006, I set myself the goal of the Vendée Globe in 2019. If I did all that, it is because there is a deep reason, anchored in this funnel effect From the start, we can ask this question again and not find the answers. In fact, this is already linked to the concept of sailing around the world. I've had the chance to take part in several races around the world, I know I like it. I did it as a crew so to seek a little novelty and change, to confront yourself, the new sporting challenge is to try to do it alone. There is also a very personal human challenge: facing solitude and your own difficulties, not so much those of the boat but managing yourself in a particular environment for so much time. There is something that I wasn't looking for but which is really huge in this story, it's the collective adventure. I already found it. Whatever happens in the Vendée Globe, it will be accomplished.
You are a whole team involved in this project.
I could spend all day telling the individual stories of each person who is involved in this project. Matthew (Ravier)the boat-captain, participated in the construction of this boat with Delta Dore. Mathilde (Fontan, communications and logistics manager) and Tom (Aubert, preparer) are 23 and 25 years old and have set foot in professional life through the project. Julian (Chany)initially, was a partner. He lives in Clermont-Ferrand and is today a team manager. Erik Nigon, who was the previous owner of the boat, had entrusted me with his previous boat. I was shipwrecked with it and from this shipwreck a fairly strong relationship was born which meant that when I looked for an Imoca, the only boat I managed to buy was Erik's because he trusted in I believe in this project. There is also the family dimension: having the support…
