The 138 skippers of the Route du Rhum
set off this Wednesday at the start of the afternoon at 2:15 p.m. from Saint-Malo. Among them, 12 Normans including Le Havre Charlie Dalin, favorite in his category, in Imoca. He was our guest this Wednesday morning on France Blue Normandy. He gives us his impressions before setting sail.
Favorite status
The skippers should have left last Sunday. But it was eventually postponed due to weather conditions. “This postponed departure was a bit special. I was not expecting it at all. The team had to reorganize, logistical work so that everyone could continue to find accommodation, but all that was quickly settled. And then after reworking on the retroplanning until today to resume our usual routine of the days leading up to the start“, explains Charlie Dalin.
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A few hours before departure
the skipper of Apivia says to himself “ready“.”The race looks good. I won’t be able to sleep much at the start of the race until I pass Pointe Bretagne.“, he adds. Le Havrais is participating for the first time as a skipper in this race.”I have already been a preparer for this race, I saw this start period by proxy. I saw how things were going in the village, the pitfalls to avoid. I feel ready to go“, adds Charlie Dalin.
“I prefer to have this favorite status. It is rewarding. It is a sign that our performance is recognized. Afterwards, the race is long and difficult. There are also very good boats and skippers opposite who also want to win the race. You have to stay humble even with this status“, concludes the Le Havre skipper.
The start of the race is to follow this Wednesday on France Bleu Normandie.