Ocean Racing Magazine - #6 - December 2007 & January 2008 - (Page 35)

that moment on their future was in 60footers. Michèle is not only attractive, but also very capable, as the expression goes. At sea of course delivering boats, in events as part of a crew, or two-handed as in the Transat Jacques Vabre, that they would race three times, or more recently in the Fastnet, but also on dry land. She is an expert preparing boats, from a technical and logistical point of view. In short, together they form a team, a duo, a couple… Through the best of times, as thank God, they haven’t seen the worst of times. Head and shoulders "What I like about Dominique is that he remains calm whatever the circumstance. He is really Swiss. I am more hot-tempered. That’s the Mediterranean side of me coming out." The Swiss sailor returns the compliment: "We make a great team. That allows us to work at 100%." On board each of us has his own area of expertise: The lady deals with the mechanics, the engine, the mast… The gentleman with the electronics, the rigging… Michèle is someone for the evening, while Dominique is wideawake in the mornings… This complementary aspect has developed over time. Moreover, Michèle always says "we" when she is talking about the crew, even when her beloved is sailing alone around the world. "I would never forgive myself if he was held up by technical problems. I am very attentive to details, and a perfectionist. Preparation is a vital element in these races." The sailor, who started out on fresh water willingly admits that on the way back to Vendée, his favourite crewmember is often more tired than he is. Dom’s boats have no secret for her. The latest Temenos was built in New Zealand. She went along to the boatyard with Dominique. They both worked together on the boat. In just one year, the Owen Clark design has clocked up almost 20,000 miles on the clock. She was there for them all except for the Route du Rhum, last year. Co-skipper, assistant, technician… Michèle also figures on the list of replacements for her partner, if he is unable to sail. "Sometimes, I have thought about pushing him down the stairs,", jokes the pretty blonde with green or brown eyes (they change according to the light). She feels capable of taking part in a Vendée Globe, has tried to do it, but has never found the means. She could have done it, she can still do it, this young woman in fine form in her fifties. Being in shape is a key element as much as what they have at their disposal to sail and they really take care of themselves. In La Rochelle and elsewhere, Michèle is intran- "Sometimes, I have thought about pushing him down the stairs" sigent about that. The sport itself is not complicated, and she adores that and cannot do without it! For Dominique, it’s a question of a healthy life. Together adding up to 100 years of age, they in no way feel worried about this, watching the younger generation arrive. However, these carbon boats seem more and more demanding. "Yes, they require more effort, admits the sailor, who has rounded the Horn six times (Michèle has only rounded the Horn twice), but I don’t feel mine is harder to sail than the previous one." It is true that the large Finot has a lot under her bonnet! It’s simply that the new generation of 60footers is more technical and that is not a problem. And in a marathon like the Barcelona World Race, experience can make all the difference. Who said experience? They have it all. Experience of ocean racing and also of their boat. They are enthusiastic and ambitious. Dominique thinks that the chances of winning aboard Temenos are high. If you probe her a little, Michèle bursts out laughing: "Here’s where I can make all the difference." More seriously, she adds: "My goal is not to regret anything, when we cross the finishing line. Doing our best without making a mistake, without any damage and of course, enjoying this long voyage together that is about to begin." Patrice Carpentier A slow start on 11th November, the nine yachts taking part in the two-handed round the world race, found it quite difficult getting out of a very calm Mediterranean. Paprec-Virbac 2 took over the lead off Gibraltar, followed very closely by PRB. Both managed to get a very strong lead over those sailing on behind. As they approached the Canaries, Jean-Pierre Dick and Damian Foxall in the blue yacht were still leading the fleet around twenty miles ahead of their rival from Vendée. Behind, groups of boats were forming: Veolia Setting sail from sunny Barcelona Environnement (Jourdain/Nélias) and Delta Dore (Beyou/Gavignet), 70 nautical miles from the leader, Estrella Damm (Altadill/McKee) and Hugo Boss (Thomson/Cape), seventy miles further back, the same for Temenos 2 (Paret/Wavre) and Mutuela Madrilena (Sanso Windmann/ Rivero), while the exKingfisher sailed by the Spaniard, Albert Bargués and the Frenchwoman, Servanne Escoffier, was quite some way further back. Although it has been said that this is just the start of the race around the world, at this level of competition the gaps that have developed after just over a week at sea reveal nevertheless a clear hierarchy, with already one slight surprise: the fast pace set by Jean-Pierre Dick and his Irish companion ahead of the duo of Vincent Riou/Sébastien Josse, who are considered to be the clear favourites in the race. The Barcelona World Race course has a series of gates that have been set up to stimulate interest in the race and to prevent the boats from diving too far south in the southern seas. Thus, the voyage through the Cook Straits, separating the two islands of New Zealand, marks the halfway stage of the race. The sixty-footers are due to pass through towards the end of the year or in the first few days of 2008.

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