Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

Meet the Vendée Globe skippers: Sébastien Simon

by Vendee Globe 11 Oct 2020 06:14 PDT
Vendée Globe skippers Sébastien Simon © Vendée Globe

He is the Les Sables d'Olonne born and bred hometown hope. His grandmother lives across the road from the Vendée Globe pontoon. His overall victory on La Solitaire du Figaro in 2018 was the platform to step up to the IMOCA class and mount a Vendée Globe programme.

He is mentored and the campaign managed by 2004-5 race winner Vincent Riou and, despite losing time to foil problems, he is one of the outstanding sailors of his generation who remains one of the podium hopefuls on Arkea Paprec. Meet Sébastien Simon.

General

Born May 6, 1990 in La Roche sur Yon
Lives in Sables d'Olonne

My Journey

Studies and professional career outside of sailing: I went to college to study structural and composite engineering in Bordeaux. I completed my apprenticeship diploma with Yves Parlier on the powering of merchant ships by kite. For two years, I lived in Arcachon. It was awesome. I had a roommate who is one of my best friends, Marc Noesmoen. We worked together, we sailed together and in the evening, we went surfing in Biscarosse, it was a great time of my life.

In the beginning:

My first sailing: I don't even remember when it was. It was on my dad's Feeling 920 from home in Les Sables d'Olonne. Every summer, we went cruising for a week to 10 days. Then at around 12-13 years old, I started competing in Optimist. I continued in 420, where I was third in the world championships in 2013. Later, I continued in sports keelboats with several podiums in the French national championships. During my studies, I sailed on weekends. I was less involved but still just as passionate. After my two years of apprenticeship, there was the CMB Figaro selection. I left everything to participate in this selection. But I completed my contract and my engineering degree while I was at the Pôle Finisterre Course au Large.

How / why did your desire to go ocean racing come about? I've always loved it. I followed the Solitaire du Figaro and of course the Vendée Globe: my grandmother lives opposite the pontoon. One day, I thought about doing the Mini 6.50. I had made the prologue to a race off Les Sables with Antho Marchand, I was 12 years old and we got 2nd together. But really it all kicked off with the Brittany CMB programme.

Why and when did it become a life project? It was my dream but finding sponsors seemed fanciful. It was when I set out on the CMB selection that I realised wanted to make it my life, my career. Thinking about a Vendée Globe project was for me always a target, the goal that made me want to get better and better in the Figaro. I always need to see the next step to improve and stay focused.

A result or experience that you are most proud of? My win in the Solitaire du Figaro, by far. I wanted to win it. It was never cut and dried. I had the feeling that I was sailing well, in control of things, and was mentally strong. And so then this is my best result.

Short Tacks

Your main quality in life? The determination
What is your main flaw in life? Impatience
If you were an animal? A cheetah
If you were a plant? A palm
If you were a movie? Straight Outta Compton
A book ? I only read at sea. I'll take 10 books. My girlfriend makes the selection for me....
If you were some music? Eminem, Sing for the moment. I listen to a bit of everything. But rap, it motivates me
Your colour? Blue
Your dream of happiness? My life right now
Your hero in life? Batman
An aphorism or saying? It is not over until the line is crossed

If you weren't an ocean racer, would you be? Entrepreneur in an industry where I would work closely with people.

My Vendee Globe 2020

Your ambitions for the Vendée Globe 2020: To finish, let's be realistic. If not I would have a really hard time getting over it. After that, a top 5 or a podium would be excellent.

What would prevent you from reaching your goal (apart from the damage): Nothing

Your lethal weapon: My determination

What would a successful Vendée Globe be for you? To arrive without regret, having given the maximum of myself, after that to get a an honourable place, having done the best with what I have. I'd like to be in the match from start to finish. I wouldn't like to be in the depths of the fleet. I would hate to be isolated, away from any competitor to challenge.

What do you want to share? My adventure, my dream, to tell what I feel, the hard times as well as the good times.

In three words, the Vendée Globe for you is: My dream, emblematic, a personal challenge

Three images you have of the Vendée Globe: The finishes of François and Armel in 2013, it's the race that fascinates me and the match at the front of the fleet.

Which skipper inspires you? Francois Gabart. He's got his head on his shoulders, he's a nice, approachable, super talented guy. He wins at the first attempt. He never loses face, he has strong convictions, he is a visionary entrepreneur. Of the new generation of sailors he embodies a lot of things for me.

What would you not go around the world without? :Something to clear my mind: book, music video, things like that. And sweets! For morale they are important.

www.vendeeglobe.org/en

Related Articles

Touching base with Francesca Clapcich
Francesca Clapcich on her 2028-2029 Vendee Globe campaign In late March, Italian-American sailor Francesca “Frankie” Clapcich announced that her Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing will campaign for the 2028-2029 edition of the Vendee Globe race. Posted on 13 May
An emotional evening in Les Sables d'Olonne
Les Sables d'Olonne lit up to celebrate the heroes of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 On Saturday 10 May, Les Sables d'Olonne lit up to celebrate the heroes of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025. An exceptional evening brought together tens of thousands of people, with strong emotions and unforgettable memories, despite the driving rain. Posted on 11 May
An evening honouring the Vendée Globe heroes
On Saturday, May 10, Les Sables d'Olonne will once again come alive to celebrate On Saturday, May 10, Les Sables d'Olonne will once again come alive to celebrate the epic journey of the Vendée Globe and pay tribute to the skippers of the 2024 edition, during a spectacular evening filled with emotion and festivity. Posted on 5 May
Vendée Globe: A record-breaking 10th edition
An unprecedented level of competition The 10th edition of the Vendée Globe ends on an exceptional note, from a sporting, popular and media point of view. The level of competition has never been so high. Posted on 26 Mar
Vendée Globe - It's a wrap
Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh is back in Les Sables d'Olonne Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh completes solo non stop round the world passage but finishes outside the 2024 Vendée Globe ranking. Posted on 8 Mar
Vendée Globe 2024 Documentary
An extraordinary event recaptured over 52 minutes There were 40 solo skippers who set off on November 10 in front of a cheering crowd, for a race that will go down in history. Posted on 8 Mar
Fabrice Amedeo finishes 32nd in the Vendée Globe
Only Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh (D'Ieteren Group) is now left racing Former political journalist turned ocean racer Fabrice Amedeo completed his second Vendée Globe today (Tuesday) when he crossed the Les Sables d'Olonne finish line at 14h UTC to take in 32nd place. Posted on 4 Mar
Manuel Cousin finishes 31th in the Vendée Globe
The 57 year old ocean racer completes his second successful Vendée Globe After 111 days and 38 minutes racing since leaving Les Sables d'Olonne on 10th November French skipper Manuel Cousin crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe today at 1240hrs UTC. Posted on 1 Mar
Armel Le Cléac'h: “An epic race with a great win”
Le Cléac'h is a true Vendée Globe legend Armel Le Cléac'h won the 2016 Vendée Globe and held the Vendée Globe record for eight years. That was until Charlie Dalin came along and finally smashed it out the park this time. Posted on 28 Feb
Complex final miles for the three musketeers
Cousin, Amedeo and Van Weynbergh are into their last days racing in the Vendée Globe The last three skippers competing in the Vendée Globe are into their last days racing. Manuel Cousin (Coup de Pouce, 31st) is expected to finish on Friday. Posted on 25 Feb
Lloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP BOTTOMCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTER