Arkea Ultim Challenge: "Only those who arrive have achieved something extraordinary"
Tatjana Pokorny
· 05.01.2024
Six extraordinary solo skippers will set off on the most spectacular circumnavigation of the world on 7 January at 1.30 pm off Brest: the new Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest will take the six sea-stormers and their giant foilers from Brittany non-stop around the world. The youngest challenger and "SVR Lazartigue" skipper Tom Laperche is only 26 years old. The most experienced and oldest is "Sodebo Ultim 3" skipper Thomas Coville, aged 55.
Anthony Marchand: steeled in nine Figaros and the Ocean Race
Between Tom Laperche and Thomas Coville on the age scale is Anthony Marchand, the second youngest participant in the Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest. Like Thomas Coville, Marchand comes from the Breton harbour town of Saint-Brieuc, but compared to his experienced compatriot, he is still a newcomer in the imperial class of ocean sailing. Marchand has taken part in the Solitaire du Figaro nine times. The former French 470 champion came second in the Figaro endurance test in 2018 and third in 2019 - two valuable tickets to the world of top performers in round-the-world races.
This race is the ultimate stress test"
At the age of 38, Anthony Marchand, who many fans still remember as a tireless and loyal fighter alongside "Biotherm" skipper Paul Meilhat from the Ocean Race, has his sights set on his first circumnavigation of the world on an Ultim trimaran. In 2021, Anthony Marchand was appointed as a replacement skipper in the team of 'Actual Ultim 3' skipper Yves Le Blevec. After the Route du Rhum, he took over the helm of the prominent foiler. Now he can and wants to reap the rewards of his work at the Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest in a solo mission.
"Strength lies in tranquillity": Marchand is a hard worker
Marchand has trained rigorously with his boat, in which François Gabart set the existing record of 42 days and 16 hours in 2017. The likeable Frenchman is perhaps best described by the saying "Strength lies in tranquillity". Marchand is not a loudspeaker and is also good at laughing at himself. He says that he "perhaps also wants to protect himself" with his reserved demeanour.
Sometimes, says Marchand, he loses track of what he is saying and commenting on. Smiling, he explains: "Then I become a bit like Thomas Coville ..." Experienced Coville is known for his philosophical views and vivid language. Marchand is also known for being a hard worker. The man with an outsider's chance knows that he has big challenges to overcome if he wants to stand up to the three faster Ultims of the younger generation.
In an interview with the organisers, Anthony Marchand talks about what moves him just a few days before the start of the Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest, how he rates his boat, which has already sailed around the world, and what taking part in the Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest means to him:
How are you feeling so close to the start?
I'm still feeling great and relaxed, even though all the media interest, the briefing on Wednesday and my sports sessions have got things moving... But everything is running smoothly at the moment. In general, I've managed to organise my weeks leading up to the race, which means a lot of the pressure is off. There will certainly be a lot of stress before the start, but I don't want the whole week to be stressful.
How much respect do you have for the start and the race itself?
I'm very curious to see whether my working methods will be efficient. I have the feeling that I can cope well with the days before the start. I've already experienced that in Le Havre, but that was a double-handed regatta (Ed.: Transat Jacques Vabre). I learn a lot about myself in situations like this. If everything goes well, I don't have so much stress and can enjoy the start, which would be fantastic. I don't think any race can be as stressful as this one. It's the ultimate stress test!
When did you first get the feeling that you could do this circumnavigation?
I think it was on the way back from the Route du Rhum when Yves handed me his boat. I told myself that it was possible and that I could do it. At the end of this transatlantic crossing, I signed up for the circumnavigation. The day I signed up came after careful consideration - not just like that. I then had a year of training and discovered the Southern Ocean in The Ocean Race, which contributed to my progress and got me to where I am now.
It feels like you're travelling on a magic carpet"
Is it a pleasure to sail a boat like an Ultim?
On the one hand, there is the fact that you are sailing above the water and are not affected even by waves two to three metres high. It feels like you're travelling on a flying carpet. It's also nice to be able to sail upright ... I can't stand it when the boat heels! Then there are sometimes contradictory feelings. On the one hand, the boats are sea monsters where everything is huge. On the other hand, they are easier to handle than you might think, as if they were flying dinghies.
Is it an advantage to be on a ship that has already travelled around the world?
Yes, of course, and not just the circumnavigation, but also the Route du Rhum and the Transat Jacques Vabre and all the miles she has already travelled. She is a boat that has changed a lot. She has gone into flight mode. The floats have been lengthened. She has been fitted with large foils, a centreboard with foil ... I want to sail smart.
How will your race go? Will you take a conservative approach or be bold?
When it's time to try something out, I'll do it. In terms of performance, I want to set the standard pretty high. I'm not sailing around the world just to make a journey. My goal is not to complete the journey at any cost ... I would feel bad if I was left behind by the fleet. I prefer to be fast, give it my all, keep up with the competition, fight hard, sail well and have no regrets.
What are the plus points of your boat built in 2015?
We are slower downwind than the others. With wind from behind, the stronger the wind gets, the better it is. With VMG downwind, we are a little slower, but our speed is right. The nice thing is that all over the world, people sail much more downwind than upwind. That's good for us. The difference in speed is not big enough for me to change the way I sail compared to the others. I want to sail carefully and sail the route that I think is best.
Do you think the boats will stay together or will there be big gaps?
I don't know, but the aim is to stay close together. I think that if we sail well up to the equator, we can keep up with the others, as was the case with the Transat Jacques Vabre.
Do you have the feeling that you are competing against opponents or skippers who have similar ideas to you?
When you're on land, we're just rivals, we're opponents. But once we're on the water, they're our 'companions', people on the same journey, having a fantastic adventure. You don't want anything bad to happen to them. You don't want any of them to be forced to abandon the race. You don't want them to have problems. You want the best for everyone - and a good race.
Are you proud to be part of this adventure?
It is generally said that this race is something extraordinary. But all these superlatives only take on real meaning once we have completed the entire route and crossed the finish line. Then we will have achieved something extraordinary. That's how I see it. Maybe it's a way of protecting myself. In any case, we'll see how it feels at the finish line.
