Alexia Barrier, 4MyPlanet
Alexia Barrier - 38 years old - has been working in the world of ocean racing for 15 years: Mini 6.50, Figaro Bénéteau, Class40 and Imoca, with one objective in mind: to race the Vendée Globe.
This Mediterranean woman has gathered around her a pool of partners, which has allowed her to acquire the mythical Penguin , Lombard plan launched in 1998 for Catherine Chabaud "I've sailed a lot on this type of boat, especially on Roxy and Philippe Monnet's. I tested it déjà? in 40 knots in Gibraltar, it's a safe boat."
In sporting terms, she is well aware that it will be difficult for her to play the leading roles on the oldest boat in the fleet "I won't put pressure on myself if I'm at the back of the pack, but if I sail well, there's no reason I can't play with some of them."
But through this race, it carries two other challenges through the 4myplanet association: to carry out a scientific observation mission for the Côte d'Azur University and an educational programme with the cities of Antibes and Biot, to introduce children to the world of the sea and make them aware of the importance of preserving the oceans.
Samantha Davies, Initiatives-Coeur
It is on the Vendée Globe 2008 that Samantha Davies makes herself known. The 44-year-old Breton woman is taking part in her first Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe by taking over from Tanguy de Lamotte, even if for her offshore racing is a family affair. On this race, she will compete with the man who shares her life, Romain Attanasio.
Its objective is therefore twofold: to do the best possible, but also to "challenge the ocean to save children", the leitmotif of Mécénat-Chirurgie Cardiaque, which it supports with its partners "For the association, the Route du Rhum is very important, because it allows to reach many people in the starting village."
And for her first transatlantic race of the Rhum, she trained a lot, as she explains "Even though I've done a lot of thousands in recent years, between the Volvo Ocean Race and sailing with Tanguy, I haven't competed in a big solo race since 2012, so it was essential for me to train."
For two years, Sam Davies took control of his IMOCA equipped with foils by his previous skipper, Jeremie Beyou, "You have to learn to manage the stress and violence of the boat. In addition, we have installed the system to change the incidence, I work a lot on this adjustment which allows to gain in performance. I am passionate about everything to do with development."
Isabelle Joschke, Monin
At 41, this Lorientaise woman became passionate about sailing during an internship at Les Glénans, when she was in her twenties. " It's like a fly biting me, I made a 180-degree turn, arrêté? my literature studies to become a professional instructor, or skipper." This is how she buys a boat to participate in the 2005 Mini Transat. It will then pass through the Figaro Bénéteau box, the Class40 and now the IMOCA under the colours of Monin, a newcomer to ocean racing.
For her first Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, the sailor will be at the helm of Yann Eliès' former VPLP-Verdier plan and supervised by Alain Gautier's team, who bought it "I've sailed a lot, with the objective of making the boat as accessible as possible on my own"
The one who has trained a lot, remains humble on these objectives "What matters most is that the boat technically goes all the way. I'll have some pressure, because the start can be difficult, but I'm not adding any result pressure, because I know I'll be on top of it. "
It will also have a dual objective with the promotion of its Horizon Mixité association, created in 2012, whose objective is to promote gender diversity in all areas of society, not just sailing.
