Global Solo Challenge: Robein focused on reliability for his circumnavigation
by Margherita Pelaschier 9 May 2023 07:34 PDT
X37 “Le souffle de la mer III” © Louis Robein
The Global Solo Challenge is a great human adventure that unites sailors from all over the world. Each of them has a unique story and background.
The choice of the boat they sail with tells us a lot about them; it is a personal decision based on their experiences at sea and on land. Often, it is a case of love at first sight, as if the sailor and the boat knew they were destined to experience great adventures together. During a round-the-world voyage, as many sailors who have already embarked on this endeavour can attest, the boat becomes one with the sailor. The boat is a travel companion, a mean to fulfil a dream, a home, and the material link that binds us to the land from which we depart and return.
Louis Robein, with his numerous participations in the Solitaire du Figaro, is a complete, competitive, and meticulous sailor. He chose to participate in the GSC with the boat he has owned since 2010, focusing on reliability and embracing the reuse and recycling philosophy promoted by the race organisation. A resident of Lyon, Louis's boat is based in the Gulf of Saint Tropez, at the Cogolin marina.
The choice of his boat was a coincidence. "After participating in eight editions of the Solitaire du Figaro, the organisation, in 2003, upgraded the fleet from the Figaro I to the Figaro II. For an amateur like me, without sponsors, it was impossible to participate, and I had to leave the circuit. Years later, in 2010, I decided to buy a more comfortable boat that could still satisfy the pleasure of going fast, a cruiser-racer. I went to the Paris Boat Show to see what the market offered. By chance, I met someone I knew at the X-Yacht shipyard stand. In reality, I just wanted to see beautiful boats but didn't think I could afford them. My acquaintance, who had raced with me in the Figaro circuit in the past, offered me a boat a little smaller than the one I thought of buying but very beautiful, solid, and performant. It was a used boat, five years old, an X-37 launched in 2005. It was love at first sight and a twist of fate, and I bought it. Over time, I have come to appreciate the quality of the details and the pleasure of sailing on my boat. I am happy with my choice."
X-Yachts boats, founded by brothers Lars and Niels Jeppesen in Denmark in 1979, have become synonymous with design and quality over the years. The Jeppesen brothers were passionate about racing themselves and created a product for lovers of "fast" sailing. After more than forty years of production, the shipyard now has over 60 sailing boat models. The X 37, produced between 2004 and 2010, has about 150 units and boasts three consecutive victories at the 2008 ORC 670 World Championship.
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