Vendée Globe – Sébastien Destremau goes through a range of feelings

by Interview with Olivier Bourbon / M&M on 23 Sep 2016 In the Vendée Globe, running a small project doesn’t stop you from experiencing huge emotions. We can see that with Sébastien Destremau, who has gone through a range of feelings in just a few days from one extreme to the other.

Losing his mast when it was being checked two months before the start is now behind him. Thanks to a lot of support from others, the skipper from Toulon has managed to get another mast. But that is not the only good news, as Sébastien also recently announced that a headline partner had signed up, TechnoFirst. We met up with the skipper of the boat that now bears the name, TechnoFirst - faceOcean.

Sébastien, you revealed at the Vendée Globe press conference that you had found a new headline partner for your project. How did that come about?
“In quite a simple way. A few months ago, the TechnoFirst company came to see me to lend me headphones for the Calero Solo Transat (between Lanzarote and Newport, editor’s note). This is the world’s leading firm in the area of actively controlled noise and vibration reduction. During this race, I was won over by these headphones. They are very useful on boats like the IMOCAs, where the noise can become extremely loud and cause tiredness. Being able to relax is something that is very precious. These headphones nullify the background noise allowing you hear particular sounds. After the transatlantic race, the heads of TechnoFirst wanted to continue this partnership with faceOcean and take advantage of the Vendée Globe to develop their reputation. Gradually they came around to the idea of investing to become the headline partner for faceOcean. TechnoFirst corresponds to my project, as this is a small firm, which has the ability of being up there with the big boys, rather like me competing in the Vendée Globe.”

Do you now have your full budget for the Vendée Globe?
“We have found the funding we were aiming for at the start of the project. Around forty firms are backing me with various levels of investment. TechnoFirst is the headline sponsor and I also have five other premium partners: TPM, 4W, Alcatraz It, VirtualRegatta, Club Ampelos and Viris. My budget for the Vendée Globe is microscopic: 350,000 euros including the purchase of the boat. I love the big teams with their ambitious budgets, but I’m trying to prove that the Vendée Globe can remain an affordable race and that the mountain that needs to be climbed can be conquered. A lot of people can take part. You just have to be up for it, roll up your sleeves and work hard.”

Is it important for you to set up a Southern project?
“Yes. TechnoFirst is based in Aubagne, not far from Marseille. I’m proud to be able to display the colours of a lively company from the South of France. Out of the six main sponsors (TechnoFirst and the five premium partners), four are local firms. In Toulon, people don’t really know the Vendée Globe. We don’t have the same skills bank around us that they have in Southern Brittany. Being down here away from all that makes things tricky. But, we are nevertheless managing to prepare for the Vendée Globe, find the funding and set up a team.”
“Not ready to give up”

The disappointing news in the past few weeks was that your boat was dismasted during measurement checks…
“The boat was in the final phase of her preparation, with a mast configured for the Vendée Globe. We were doing the 90° stability test required by the IMOCA class. As we put the boat over on her side, one of the shrouds snapped and the mast broke in four pieces. All that just two months before the start of the Vendée Globe… But we weren’t ready to give up and everyone just kept going. We decided to continue with the preparation, as if nothing had happened. All I had to do was find a replacement solution for the mast.”

How did you find this mast?
“Following on from news of the dismasting, we received eight proposals to fit a mast on the boat, including some from teams about to compete in the next Vendée Globe. We studied all the proposals and made a decision based on the budget and schedules. Everyone supported us after this incident, which was remarkable. It’s fantastic to see people pulling together to help you.”
“We turned this disaster around to turn it into a real opportunity”

Do you have a clear idea of what you will be doing in the coming weeks?
“The plans are getting clearer each day. We are currently finishing the installation of all the parts required to step the mast, which is likely to happen late next week. The, we’re going to have to redo the measurement check, then do some sailing before the delivery trip to Les Sables d’Olonne. I’m planning to leave Toulon in the next fortnight. We will be in Les Sables way before the start, probably not by 15th October for the opening of the Village, but a few days later. We’ll be able to take part in the festivities.”

So, you’re certain that you’ll be there at the start on 6th November?
“Yes and with a mast that works perfectly well. In ten days we turned things around, going from a disaster, which looked like knocking us out, to making it a real opportunity. This was a turnaround we could not have dreamt of. It’s really given an impetus in this little team.”

There are a lot of hurdles on the way to the Vendée Globe…
“You don’t need to tell us! There is a long list of things to overcome to get to the start. I lost my mast twice in nine months, but I hung on in spite of that to make sure I could take part in the Vendée Globe in good condition. I can’t wait for the 6th November, even I feel apprehensive. When I cast off, it will be like entering a different phase. After all of the preparation, this is another story. I’m not certain that one is any harder than the other, or indeed greater than the other. Once we’re at sea, I’ll focus on sailing the boat well to get her from Les Sables d’Olonne back to Les Sables d’Olonne. But for the moment, I’m still on edge, as there is so much left to do in the next few weeks.”