How is Team HUA Freedom doing after this season in Class40, in which you took part in two races, the Drheam Cup and the CIC NCR?

This 2024 season has been pretty good. It started a bit late, as we received the boat in May, which enabled us to take part in the Drheam Cup and the CIC Normandy Channel Race. These two races gave us the opportunity to race Class40 n°139, which confirmed our choice of boat. It’s an older generation boat, but it’s still a top performer. These two very demanding races have pushed us to the limit and we’ve had to deal with a variety of breakages. Everything that had to break broke and that enabled us to assess the different areas of work in preparing the boat for the Globe40.

What lessons have you learnt from these races on your Class40 n°139? Are you definitely satisfied with your choice of boat?

We’re very happy with our choice of boat, as it’s a very pleasant boat to live on. It’s big and spacious inside. In terms of the ergonomics of the winches inside, we’re above average. These 2024 races have given us the opportunity to look at future improvements to the boat to improve its performance. For example, we’re going to modify the cap to give the sailor more shelter for the Globe40 and add a watch seat. The 5 of us will be taking it in turns to sail around the world, and all these races have enabled us to get to know each other better, to sail together and, above all, to see that we all share the same project philosophy, which is to experience the Globe40 as an adventure and to showcase Réunion.

Do you really appreciate how far you’ve come since your 1st Class40 race, the NCR 2020 with Sébastien Marsset, now in the Vendée Globe? Do you still have any contact with him?

I’ve come a long way since I started in Class40. I’m particularly aware now of the level of professionalism that sailors have today. There’s quite a gap between the enlightened amateurs and the professionals. That pushes the HUA team to work hard to keep up. Whether it’s the sailing, the weather or the technical preparation, we’re becoming aware of the scale of Globe40 and the preparation that it involves. We’re training hard.

I’m obviously very proud to see Sébastien Marsset in the Vendée Globe, as it was his dream. He was already talking to me about it during the NCR 2020, so to see that he’s getting there, that he’s currently sailing in the South Atlantic, is really great for him and his family. I had a quick chat with him before the start to congratulate and encourage him.

How do you manage your professional life based on Réunion and your Globe40 project in mainland France?

It takes a lot of hard work and organisation, and above all you need to be well surrounded. I have works supervisors and a management assistant who manage my company when I’m away.

Compared with my TJV 2021 project, we’re much more of a team and that means I can delegate certain tasks. For example, I have a boat captain who is currently looking after the boat and who is doing a remarkable job. I also have Victor Jost and Charles Motte in communications. We really are a complete team and to be surrounded by passionate people with the same mindset is invaluable on a daily basis.

This is the first time that Réunion has hosted a major ocean racing event, and even more so with a boat flying its colours. Are you beginning to feel the enthusiasm of the Réunionese people around the project?

Radio Freedom is really starting to talk about it. All the sailing clubs are also quite keen and proud of what the HUA team is doing at the moment and that’s a real source of support. There’s also a real enthusiasm on the part of the elected representatives and authorities on Réunion, who are keen to open up to the sea and develop ocean racing on the island. There’s a great dynamic around the project and that’s really great.

This winter will be marked by a refit of the boat; what modifications or adaptations would you like to make to your boat in preparation for Globe40?

The main modification has been the cap to provide better protection with an outside watch seat. We’re also in the process of putting in place a new energy system with two hydro generators and solar panels, as we want to install a high-performance communication system with Starlink. We’ve also had a major refit of the compulsory watertight bulkheads and a complete check of all the floors. We had a few breakages during the NCR CIC so we checked everything. The keel was sent to the welder. The boat hasn’t sailed much since the TJV 2021 and these 2024 races have highlighted all the boat’s little faults. We’re working on all these issues during this winter refit.

Alongside this winter work, I’m continuing to sail regularly on a JPK 38 with Maxime Boursier. I’m also doing some laser training to fine-tune my helm, the settings and keep the feel of the boat.

Do you already have a clear idea of the co-skippers who will be accompanying you on this round the world race?

There will be 5 of us on the Globe40.

François Martin is a former Sea Shepherd captain with whom I did the CIC NCR 2024 and who is also an outstanding boat preparer. He’s been sailing all his life and trained on the Tour Voile for the Réunion team in the 2000s.

Victor Jost, who sailed the Route du Rhum and the TJV with me. He’s a great sailor, a bon vivant, who shares the same vision of the project as I do. He’s the person in the team who has sailed the most in Class40.

Maxime Boursier sails every day as he’s a sailing instructor. He recently took part in the Drheam Cup and trains whenever he can with Benoit Lequin during the training sessions in Lorient.

The final co-skipper will be announced shortly.

The start of the 2nd edition of the round the world race is fast approaching. What is your race programme for 2025 before the big start?

It’s clear that I want to do all the races, but that won’t be possible. We’ll be taking part in the Sables Horta and the CIC NCR and we’re also following Benoit Lequin’s training programme with the other Class40 projects. We need to keep sailing. I really want to do the return leg of Les Sables Horta solo as I haven’t done much solo sailing. All these races represent a budget, but my priority is the winter refit so that I can perform well in the Globe40.

In a year’s time you’ll be in the Indian Ocean on the Globe40 heading for Sydney. What’s your state of mind as you approach this great challenge?

I don’t think I’ll be on that leg; it’ll probably be Maxime. But it’s true that something has clicked for me recently as this great race approaches. I’ve realised just how much effort goes into preparing for this event.

I’m also training via Virtual Regatta to understand and study the weather patterns. I’m on it every day. I take weather readings as if I were at sea and I talk to a meteorologist afterwards.

But I can’t wait to get out on the water!