Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008 - (Page 30)

IN THE WORDS OF THE SKIPPER just entered the class, but there were decisions taken collectively that everyone needs to accept. With experience of multihull racing, the Round Europe race showed it was very difficult to get the public interested, but if the sponsors are European enough to want to become involved in this type of event, all well and good… All arguments may be valid, but history will only note the result!" on my mind until the end of 2009. Then, there is the Solitaire du Figaro in two years time. I can’t yet say whether I will want to move on to something else or continue to race…" world. I wasn’t necessarily completely at ease with a crew, but they were the races, where you can learn the most. Fascinating, but difficult from every angle. After three months of single-handed sailing in 2008-2009, I don’t know which direction I’ll feel like taking…" What is your programme for Foncia ? " After the Transat Jacques Vabre 2007, a crewed race (to be defined) and the Artemis Transat (the transatlantic race from Plymouth-Boston) before finishing with the Vendée Globe next season. In 2009, the Calais Round Britain Race and another Transat Jacques Vabre, the final race for the boat in Foncia’s colours). Then according to what is in place, the new Round Europe race in 2009…" What about after that? "For the time being, I don’t know. I can’t look that far ahead! I’ve already got enough You are however mostly racing single-handedly? "Perhaps because these are the easiest races to organise! I did quite a few crewed races with the Géant trimaran and that’s certainly not the easiest thing to arrange, even if I really enjoyed it. The IMOCA programme is essentially based around solo events and even the Transat Jacques Vabre is designed as a preparation for the Vendée Globe: I’m setting out with Emmanuel Le Borgne with no router for example. I took part in the Figaro this summer with the same way of looking at things." What about multihulls? "I always found the Grand Prix events amazing! Perhaps we didn’t make the most of them, but the ORMA trimarans remain the most exciting boats in the Which boat on which you have sailed has left the greatest impression on you? " Foncia is the third boat specifically made for me, but in the projects I have been involved in and particularly from a human perspective, there was the Mini in 1991, which left its mark on me. It was a yacht that technologically introduced the most innovations in a class: the canting keel and adjustable bowsprit would be taken up by others… It meant more than the Figaro where I won three times in ten entries." You never get tired of being on the water almost all the time? "It’s not like going down a mine! It may not be great fun everyday, but life is nevertheless very pleasant at sea…" Apart from navigation, what interests you the most in sailing? "I like being the one to get us out of a rut. The search for performance, whether we are talking about a Class America to grab a few hundredths of a knot or on a maxi-multihull to gain a knot and a half. Working with boatyards to make pleasure craft faster. I like the design department…" There are two areas of sailing you have not yet been involved in: match racing and light sailing… "Fighting a duel isn’t my kind of thing. Trying to overcome another is not my way of sailing. There are some excellent Frenchmen in this very special kind of sailing. While I love the America’s Cup for its technological aspect, match racing is not something suited to my outlook. As for light sailing, I did fancy a go years ago, but now I’m just too old!" Interview with Dominic Bourgeois CourseAuLarge - décembre 2007 ©Y.Zedda/Foncia

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008

Cover
Edito
Contents
What they said
News
Portfolio - The news in the picture
Transat Jacques Vabre - Monohulls in power
In the words of the skipper - Michel Desjoyaux, A little bit more
Barcelona World Race - A couple sailing around the world
Imoca - Growth crisis in the Imoca class
Transat 6.5 - A whole series of records
Mini Class - Anatomy of a winner
Multihulls - What sort of trimarans tomorrow ?
Volvo Ocean Race - Second generation
Trials - Mach 45 : an unusual IRC
Match Racing - King Richard
Tactics - A good start
Portrait - Jacques Caraës
Lab - Tubular or wing mast ?
Forty years ago - Chichester, the lonely sea and the sky
Equipment - Shop window
New products - From the drawing board to the boatyard
Opinion - The mirage of worshipping technology

Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008