Transat Jacques Vabre – Qualification in bag for Multi 50 Arkema crew

by Arkema on 19 Oct 2017 Good news for Lalou Roucayrol and Alex Pella! Last Monday they validated their qualification course for the Transat Jacques Vabre.

Next week, the two men’s craft will be ferried to Le Havre, where the Jacques Vabre race will start on 5 November. With under three weeks to go, let’s get to know this ambitious pair who did not take long to find their feet …

It’s official, Lalou Roucayrol and Alex Pella now have their admission ticket to the Transat Jacques Vabre. By midday on 16 October, the Arkema pair had completed a 48 h qualification course from and back to Port-Médoc. This comprehensive course, with alternating light airs and fresh breezes, enabled the pair to get into the swing of things.

“We really had a racing pace, in particular with a lot of maneuvers at night on a choppy sea”, says Lalou. “We moved fast throughout the course, our speeds ranging between 21 and 27 knots. The return leg was particularly lively and we covered 250 miles in 10 hours. The boat is sound and highly seaworthy, including in challenging conditions. Alex and I will have less shared sailing experience than the others, but that doesn’t worry me.”

After joining the Arkema project barely two months ago when Karine Fauconnier had to pull out through injury, Alex Pella has proved a quick learner, helped by his solid experience as well as Lalou Roucayrol’s support. The deadline is fast approaching for the Franco-Spanish pair, who will moor their Multi50 in Le Havre by Friday 27 October latest. Lalou and Alex are ready to ferry their boat next Monday.

Joint interview with Lalou and Alex:

Lalou, Alex, could you describe your co-skipper in a few words?

Lalou Roucayrol: “Alex is a true professional. He was not familiar with Multi50 boats but adapts easily. He has so much experience that everything falls into place naturally. He’s someone I can rely on 200%. He loves sailing and in particular sailing at high speed. With him there’s no time wasted, and it’s precisely what we needed. We were not wrong when we took him on. Especially as, from a human viewpoint, he’s a very approachable, uncomplicated guy, and a gentleman.”
Alex Pella: “I’m impressed with Lalou’s experience with multihull boats. He initiated the Multi50 Arkema, so he knows it inside out. His help is invaluable for me as I have only just joined the project. I feel at ease with Lalou, we enjoy each other’s company at sea. Communication between us is very good and my integration in the team is going smoothly as they have made me feel welcome, and I feel perfectly comfortable with them.”

Do you have anything in common?

Lalou: “We are in tune in the way we see the ocean and handling the ocean. We operate, handle situations, fine-tune the boat and attack when necessary in the same way. We both know how to aim for speed, but always setting our limits. This transcends us. We share similar interests and are compatible on a human level. And we look after each other, for example by getting a mug of coffee ready. Tiny details like this matter when you live on a boat.”
Alex: “It’s true, we do have a lot in common when it comes to sailing. We both welcome discussion in order to manage the boat as best we can. And we talk about other things, not just sailing.”

What sets you apart from each other, if anything?

Lalou: “Difficult to say… We share many many things, and I can’t think of any that would really set us apart. Oh yes, maybe one thing! At sea, Alex talks a lot. I tend to be less chatty, but with him it’s as if I had the radio on!” (laughs)
Alex: “My experience on large multihulls goes back three of four years. Whereas Lalou has followed the evolution of these ocean-racing boats for decades. Interacting with him and making the most of this experience is exciting.”

Alex, how are you getting on with learning to handle this craft you weren’t familiar with?

Alex: “I’m getting on well! I have to digest a lot of information in a short space of time, but that’s precisely what I enjoy in ocean racing. My past experience on large multihulls is invaluable. The Multi 50 Arkema is a lot of fun, it’s sharp and nervy, just like a moped. I love being on board. The counterpart is that the boat is less dry and less comfortable than the maxi trimarans I know. I’m beginning to get a feel for how to handle the boat and make the adjustments. I’m not a world champion in Multi50 but I have a good teacher. I ask a lot of questions because I want to know as much as possible by the time we set off on this race.”

Given the courses you have sailed up to now, what sporting objective are you aiming for in the Transat Jacques Vabre race?

Lalou: “Realistically we can maintain the objectives we had set ourselves with Karine, namely a place on the podium at least, if not the first place. Our lack of joint training will be compensated by the natural complicity we share. We have everything in place to succeed: the boat is ready, the team on land is in fine form. Eric Mas and Karine Fauconnier are keen and ready when it comes to the weather, and Alex and I are more than driven.”
Alex: “I don’t like making predictions, but I believe that a great performance is a distinct possibility!”