“It is always a great moment of joy, excitement and stress before leaving the earth” tells the Marseillais Christopher Pratt who is one of the 79 skippers who leave Le Havre this Sunday at 13:27. The arrival is scheduled in Martinique for this 15th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre. This is the sixth time that Christopher Pratt has participated but this time he is stressed by the winter weather in November: “storms, waves of 5-6 meters, very strong winds.” The first hours of the race are important: “Before crossing the Atlantic, we will have to leave the English Channel where there is a lot of current, maritime traffic so there is a lot of risk of collisions. It is a key moment in the race.”
A duo who know each other well with the Breton Jérémie Beyou
This is the third time that Christopher Pratt has participated in this sailing race with the Breton Jérémie Beyou. “We consider ourselves a bit like an old couple” quips the skipper from the South. “We have automatisms. We have less need to talk to each other to understand each other when we are sailing together” he explains. A reinforced complicity by years of sailing together: “_we share strong moments that seal a friendshipié. “The duo finished at the third place in the Transat Jacques Vabre two years ago due to a slowdown in the “Doldrums that cost us the victory.” Christopher Pratt also remembers a “capsized in 2017 where I almost drowned.” _ The duo want to win this year with their boat, IMOCA Charal. Christopher Pratt plans to take part in the Vendée Globe solo sailing race in three years time.
– Gauthier Lebec / CHARAL