Paul Meilhat learnt regatta sailing classically in the Optimist. He tested himself in the Laser and 49er at the Olympics before finding his sailing destiny in the French Figaro school. In 2017, he began his rise in the Imoca Royal League of solo and double-handed sailors. Today, the 39-year-old is one of France's greats in the offshore sailing world and is currently celebrating his debut in the 14th The Ocean Race with the new "Biotherm".
Three days after the start of the first stage from Alicante to Cape Verde, the team was in fourth place behind Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia on the morning of 18 January. Kevin Escoffier's Swiss team Holcim - PRB continued to lead the way.
Without joint training, but with Imoca greats in the Ocean Race
Paul Meilhat started the team race around the world on 15 January with the youngest boat in the fleet and a hand-picked elite crew, who only sailed together on the blue and white "Biotherm" for the first time two days before the start. If you compare this with the roughly three-year preparation time of Charlie Enright's 11th Hour Racing team, the discrepancy is enormous.
The skipper from La Garenne-Colombes in the Île-de-France region has already completed a Transat Jacques Vabre together with his co-skipper Sam Davies. Both know and appreciate each other.
All "Biotherm" crew members could also sail the Imoca alone
Meilhat's other crew members, some of whom rotate as in all other Ocean Race teams, are 28-year-old mini and Class 40 helmswoman Amélie Grassi, who was the only soloist in the leading group on the last Route du Rhum when the mast of her Class 40 "La Boulangère Bio" broke. The French-influenced team also includes Paralympics winner and Vendée Globe skipper Damien Seguin and all-rounder Anthony Marchand. Minghao Zhang and Anne Beaugé alternate as onboard reporters.
"For me, the Ocean Race is the DNA of sailing"
Paul, you said that the Ocean Race is a big dream for you. Why does it fascinate you so much?
Because I would like to sail this great boat with a crew. For me, the Ocean Race is the DNA of sailing. It's important for us to discover the world, spend time in different countries and show off our boats.
Your new Imoca is a sister ship to Charlie Dalin's "Apivia", a Verdier design built by Persico and the youngest boat in the current Ocean Race fleet. It was only launched in September. Are you ready for an ocean marathon like the Ocean Race?
We weren't fully ready at the start and are a fairly new team. That's why I brought people into the team who can sail the boat without training. They are all autonomous sailors who can also sail an Imoca on their own. I wanted to have people on board who share the philosophy of the project.
"I have surrounded myself with first-class candidates"
I tried to strike a balance between energy, enjoyment and expertise. But I also had to be pragmatic because we didn't have the time to prepare. That's why I had to surround myself with people who are already first-class candidates and who I am 100 per cent sure will work out. With this big challenge, it is also important for us to have fun together. Everyone was looking forward to the race!
So you will continue to develop the boat as a team during the race?
Exactly. We have people on board who can sail the boat without training. But for the Ocean Race, we will learn, learn, learn. It's much easier if you're not on your own, like on a Vendée Globe. There are around 110 days of sailing during which we are never alone in the cockpit, so we can always talk about everything.
What counts more: the long preparation like that of the Americans or the Imoca experience in your team?
Charlie's team has a lot of Ocean Race experience. They have prepared intensively for this race. But in our crew we have many, many thousands of miles of experience with Imocas. I think that will be important."
Your boat looks like the purist of the fleet, is simple and beautiful to look at. But you don't want to reveal the weight?
No. But I can say that it's one of the lighter boats in the fleet. If you look at 'Malizia', you would have to build two 'Biotherms' to get one Malizia... (smiles).
"There is only one place in the boat where you can stand upright"
But you also don't have the comfort of the standing height that Boris' boat has, which has interpreted the class rules in a different way and with different objectives...
We have a height of 1.45 metres inside, so you have to crawl around most of the time. There is only one small place in the boat where you can stand upright. Less than one square metre. It was a decision to build a light boat and therefore keep everything tight. The righting moment is very important on an IMOCA and it's much better to keep the centre of gravity low. I am happy with my choice.
How is the Ocean Race positioned in the sailing world?
The Ocean Race is one of the biggest events in the international sporting world. While a race like the Route du Rhum in France is more of a mass event, the Ocean Race has a lot of class. And because of the team character, you can share it with others. I have total confidence in my crew. It's just that it's created a whole new pressure for me, a new responsibility: I have to get them all home safe and sound.
"The project is a mirror of me"
How would you describe your project, your "Biotherm" campaign?
The project is like a mirror of me. It is me. It is my life.
Do you think that the historically smallest Ocean Race fleet in this edition will grow again in the future after the switch to the Imoca class?
I'm sure we'll see 15 to 20 boats on the start line next time. I get lots of messages from France every day. They are all jealous of what we are doing here.
