In the car taking us to Lorient, there is a little tension in the pit of the stomach. You know, the tension you feel on a big day: a first date, a departure to cross the Atlantic, an interview for the job of your dreams... The mixture of excitement, impatience, as well as slight apprehension, faced with the importance of the event. A childhood dream. You are about to climb aboard one of the current biggest racing trimarans. In the category qualified as ‘Ultime’, for the coming Route du Rhum. Eighty feet, singlehanded – do you fancy it? OK, you won’t really be alone aboard, and there is no question of closing your eyes for a single second, for fear of missing something, but you can dream, can’t you?
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Publié le
16/12/2016
Par
François Trégouët
Numéro :
138
Parution :
Nov.
/
Dec.
2014
So, you are there on the dock. Intimidated. Despite Lionel Lemonchois’s invitation to climb aboard as you please, you don’t move. Or rather, not immediately. You enjoy the moment. Your gaze starts at the bow, runs along the 24 meter length of the port hull in front of you and comes to rest at the transom. Sizing it up, estimating the scale, following the control line circuits, admiring each custom-made part, having your breath taken away by the long, sharp bows. Observing the team moving around, noting the areas where you can step, the bits of ‘string’ it is best to avoid. Go on, don’t worry, …
