From the shores of Guadeloupe to the competition in Quiberon Bay
Thibaut Vauchel Camus spent her childhood in Guadeloupe practicing light sailing, in a sports catamaran from 10 to 20 years old. For fun, he enjoys surfing and windsurfing.
"After two seasons in Hobie Cat 16 with Damien Seguin (Editor's note: another skipper who works in IMOCA) in Guadeloupe, we were detected to integrate the France Tornado pole into the National Sailing School of Quiberon."
For two years they have been racing in Tornado, but "Olympism no longer made me dream. I was frustrated to cross Europe to make rounds in a bay between 3 buoys and not discover the place we were sailing in."
While continuing his studies on the face, he decided at the same time to switch to Formula 18, and sailed for a year with Jérémy Lagarrigue. "We used to do raids, long distance, we used to sail everything simplement?! We've won several French championship titles and ¾ raids we've participated in in France."
He also meets new people and discovers new media. "Steve Ravussin, Yvan Bourgnon, Franck Cammas or Roland Jourdain invited me to sail on their boat, big ORMAs, IMOCAs..."
Project Figaro aborted and return to life as a landowner
After his studies, he worked for 3 years at ADH Inotec on the development of Diamonds, when he decided to launch his Figaro project. "I was accompanied and motivated by Fred Duthil. He made me sail on his boats, had me conveyed and gave me the means to confirm that I liked the solo offshore."
But his project did not succeed. "It was a complicated period in the boating industry around 2009. My project was poorly sold and prepared and I had no particular network."
Thibaut left the competition aside and embarked on a real estate career in Rennes for three years. "I hung up the oilskin until I got tired of refusing the navigation plans I was offered... Hydroptère, IMOCA..."
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Life is made of encounters
In 2012, he resigned and joined Jérémy Lagarrigue in Switzerland in the hydrofoil business. It was then that he crossed paths with his friend, Victorien Erussard in 2016. They then decided to embark on a Class40 ocean racing project and participated together in the English Transat or the Quebec Saint-Malo.
"In 2016, we decide to change categories to Multi50. We wanted to buy a boat, but there were none left to sell."
The duo started building a new boat in 2017. The Multi50 Solidaires En Peloton - ARSEP is launched in 2018. Today, he is one of the class' favourites.
"There are reasons to say it, but just because you're a favorite doesn't mean it devalues others. The other boats are very good and their sailors have experience."
The Multi50 Solidaires En Peloton - ARSEP
The VPLP plan built by the Emirates shipyard Enata was launched in 2018 and Thibaut won some fine podiums on board. For the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019, no major changes have taken place on the boat.
"The only thing we've modified is the addition of a new, more distinctive sail for this course, which is different from the Route du Rhum. We are going to have a large phase of carrying GMVs and our large gennaker will allow us to go lower and faster. We'll be on a downwind stance all on one side, from tradewinds to doldrums."
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In partnership with Fred Duthil
Thibaut chose Fred Duthil to accompany him on the Transat Jacques Vabre. "Because he's a long-time friend, a very good sailor, who won the Solitaire du Figaro. It allowed me to test my desire to race at the time and accompanied me on my Figaro project. He entrusted me with his boats and he was important in my journey."
If the two men are different, they understand each other well. Thibaut recognizes the racing qualities of this sailor with whom he gets along well. "It's important not to leave on a CV casting, but to put some feeling and sharing into it. The idea is also to have a good time and sleep in peace" he amuses himself.
A status of favorite assumed
The two sailors were well prepared and Fred Duthil quickly got used to the boat. "We have no particular deficit. We are not picking it up after we do not master the level of preparation of others. Sebastien Rogues and Matthieu Souben have made rapid progress. They had more aggressive navigational attitudes on this ferry, which was not the case two months ago. It's hard to judge how little experience they have."
Both men are favourites on this coffee road. A status that Thibaut assumes. "You can't be labeled a favorite if you can't say you're going to win." And indeed, it's good the victory that the duo hope to achieve .
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Visibility for the Multi50 class
With the absence of the Ultimates - engaged on the Atlantic Brest - the Multi50s will be the first to join Brazil. A visibility appreciated by Thibaut. "On paper, we are faster than the IMOCAs, which will allow us to win the Transat Jacques Vabre in the scratch. It's interesting in terms of communication . And it is up to us to take this opportunity to shed light on our class."
Because if this year, the class is not at its maximum, this will not be the case next year. "In sporting terms, it's not as rewarding as if there were 6 of us, but we have 3 serious projects. In two years, the class will be at top?! We'll have another fleet density and it's going to be great.
IMOCA foilers, positive developments for boating
This Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 will also be the opportunity to see the latest IMOCAs sailing. Thibaut explains this interest: "We will be able to sail alongside exceptional boats like the IMOCAs recently launched. It's interesting to be able to discuss technologies with their skippers. It's a way of sailing that's starting to get closer to ours."
