Vendée Globe – Youngest competitor preparing aboard a legendary boat

by OB / Mer and Media on 17 Jun 2016 Apart from in 1989-1990 and 1996-1997, there has always been at least one Swiss sailor (or Franco Swiss sailor) setting out in the Vendée Globe. In the absence of Bernard Stamm and Dominique Wavre, Alan Roura is taking up the baton for the eighth edition of the non-stop solo round the world race.

At just 23, the youngest competitor in the history of the race is preparing aboard a legendary old boat first launched in 2000, Bernard Stamm’s former Superbigou. Alan Roura is behind a reasonably sized project, the type that gives a lot of charm to the Vendée Globe. We met up with him to find out more.

Alan, you have managed to qualify for the Vendée Globe by completing the Calero Marinas Solo Transatlantic Race between Lanzarote (Canaries) and Newport (U.S.). How did this first race in the IMOCA class go for you?

“It was long (laughs)! It wasn’t really the best season to set off from the Canaries to head for Newport. A course like the one used in The Transat is more suited to the conditions (Plymouth-New York, editor’s note). But I chose to take part in the Calero Solo rather than The Transat, as the aim was to qualify as quickly as possible to save time with a refit coming up shortly. The Transat cost more too and on paper the boat would have suffered more. In the end, we got hit more in the Calero Solo. There were two major options in this race: my two rivals (Sébastien Destremau and Pieter Heerema, editor’s note) headed north, while I went south. In the end, this was not at all the right strategy. Firstly, I had to deal with a long period of calm conditions. Once past Bermuda, last week, I suddenly got hit by rough weather. Strong winds, heavy seas, breakers and no downwind sailing… If I had to sum up this race in one phrase, it would be ‘beyond the limits’. But this event was a great test for me and the boat. I could see what we really had.”

So, were you pleased with what you did and how your IMOCA behaved?

“Yes. When we set off from the Canaries, I wasn’t at ease physically or mentally. I felt tired after the last four months of preparation. My boat is physically very demanding, as I have to use a winch to cant the keel, and don’t have a hydraulic system, like they have on the other IMOCAs. I don’t have a grinder column either. In spite of that, I wasn’t exhausted at the finish in Newport, which is pleasing. There weren’t any technical problems either, except with the mast. I had to carry out repairs at the mast head, 25 metres up in the air. It was a bit tough. But that was good training for the Vendée Globe, as I may well experience other incidents like that… As for everything else, the boat is perfect, even if the rigging and sails were worn out before the start, as we didn’t have the budget or time to change them. That’s another reason why I took the decision to head south, as this was the cautious and safest option.”

You already seem to be attached to your monohull. We get the impression that you get on well together…

“This is the boat of my dreams for a first Vendée Globe. It was this one and none other. She’s fast and safe and I feel at ease aboard her. She’s well built and can complete the round the world voyage without any problem. I have already sailed a huge number of miles aboard her. Lots of IMOCAs spend a huge part of their life in the yard and don’t do that much sailing. I’m trying to do the reverse to get used to her as much as I can.”

Now that you have qualified, the Vendée Globe is getting clearer…

“For a small team like ours, we’re extremely proud to be able to line up at the start of the Vendée Globe to face the big teams. There aren’t merely the winning projects with foils. There are also skippers setting off with smaller budgets, who have great stories to tell. Four years ago, the two skippers aboard the two oldest boats (Tanguy de Lamotte and Alessandro di Benedetto, editor’s note) sailed really well and communicated very well. The Vendée Globe is not merely a question of pure and hard performance. It’s also an adventure.”

You seem to be more like an adventurer than a racer…

“People often say that and they’re not wrong (laughs). But I’m not taking part in the Vendée either to take it easy. There are other older boats sailed by good skippers and I’ll be doing my best to be up with them. As usual in the Vendée Globe, there are going to be several races within the race.”

Are you one of the sailors, who have been dreaming of the Vendée Globe since they were small?
“Yes, the dream from my childhood is now becoming reality. I have great memories of the 2000-2001 Vendée Globe, and Ellen MacArthur’s race left its mark on me. In one video, you can see that tiny lady climb to the top of her mast before coming back down in tears. She finished her round the world voyage in second place at the age of 24. Her magnificent performance opened my eyes. You don’t have to wait until you’re thirty to have a great Vendée Globe.”

“A gang of friends helping each other out”

How far have you got with your budget?
“It’s not yet complete, but we’re making good progress. Thanks to the “Un Vendée pour la Suisse” club, bringing together local businesses, we have managed to find a large part of the budget. We’re busy now looking for the rest of the funding. Each month, we find new sources of finance. The budget for the boat is enough to see us get to the start line. We’re doing really well with this little team. I’m lucky to have some great people at my side. We’re a gang of friends and the way we help each other is incredible.”

Were you expecting it to be so complicated managing this project?
“I thought it would be slightly easier. It’s got nothing to do with running a Class40 project and even less to do with a Mini 6.50 one. IMOCAs are incredible machines and demanding in terms of the preparation. This boat hadn’t raced for a long time. We had to do a lot to catch up with the class rules. When I saw Bernard Stamm early this year, I was really proud to tell him that I would be doing the Vendée on his old Superbigou. He straightened me out somewhat reminding me that it isn’t enough just having a boat. In the end, I should thank him, as he wasn’t at all wrong. Class rules, qualification, paperwork, yard work… It’s a long road getting to the start line. But we’ve been through the hardest part.”

What is your programme now?
“After sailing between the Azores and Lorient, the boat will go into the yard for at least a month. We’ll be replacing the rigging, but also working on the interior fittings, the deck layout and fitting the autopilots… We’ve also planned to buy a protective cover, as my IMOCA is the only one without any protection over the cockpit. It will be something light that looks good and is practical. As for the sails, we’re in talks with a Swiss sail-maker. The boat will be as new, when she is relaunched. I’ll be able to set off on a good base. I want to get everything on my side to avoid breakages.”

You’ll be the fourth Swiss sailor to compete in the Vendée Globe after Bernard Gallay, Dominique Wavre and Bernard Stamm. Is that something that makes you feel proud?
“It is indeed a real honour to represent Switzerland in the next Vendée Globe. Swiss sailors have done well in ocean racing. Dominique Wavre is the sailor, who has done the most solo round the world trips. Bernard Stamm has a fantastic list of achievements. Then, we should mention Bernard Gallay, the Bourgnon brothers, Stève Ravussin… In Switzerland, the race isn’t as famous as it is in France. But the Vendée Globe is the internationally renowned race that is the Holy Grail for solo sailors from around the world. People are always pleased to see at least one Swiss sailor at the start of such a big race. And they are followed by the media.”