Transat Jacques Vabre: Sébastien Rogues and Matthieu Souben first to arrive – The HuffPost

BOATING – They were the first to appear, to everyone’s surprise. On the night of Monday 22 to Tuesday 23 November, aboard their 15-meter multihull (Primonial), Sébastien Rogues and Matthieu Souben finished first the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021. They arrived in Martinique after 15 days at sea to win in the Ocean Fifty category.

The duo of skippers crossed the line in the bay of Fort-de-France at 9:54 p.m. local time (i.e. 2:54 a.m. in Paris) after leaving Le Havre on November 7 in a fleet of 79 boats in total, spread over four classes of sailboats with three different courses depending on the power of the boat.

“It’s a lot of happiness, we are happy with the efforts we have made over a fortnight. It’s awesome! These are rare moments in life, and that is priceless, ”said Rogues, who was responding to journalists from his boat moored to the pontoon and lit by the full moon.

In front of the fastest boats in the world

Especially since the two sailors arrived before the fastest boats in the world, the Ultimes (32-meter long flying maxi-trimaran), which have a course a third longer than the Ocean Fifty. Among these competitors, the current leader, the tandem made up of Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) is expected from this Tuesday at midday (Paris time).

“It’s always nice to arrive before the Ultimes, it must be said! They really didn’t have the same course as us, and anyway, they’re the most beautiful boats in the world with the best sailors in the world. That won’t change. But there is little chance in life where you can win the Jacques Vabre and even less win it in front of the Ultimates, so maybe this one will be the only one in our life, ”said Rogues.

Rogues and Souben have teamed up for the second time in the Transat Jacques Vabre. In 2019, they finished third in Multi 50 (the old name of Ocean Fifty). Rogues, 35, gave him his second victory in the doubles race after his success with Fabien Delahaye in 2013 in class 40 (12-meter monohull).

Also on the night from Monday to Tuesday, two and a half hours after the winners, the second in the Ocean Fifty category also arrived in Martinique: sur Koesio, Erwan Le Roux and Xavier Macaire. Then in the early hours of Paris time, it was Sam Goodchild and Aymeric Chappellier on Leyton who presented themselves in Fort-de-France.

See also on the HuffPost: At the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre, dolphins with the skippers off Brittany