Mayenne is not a coastal department but that does not prevent Mayenne companies from being attracted to sailing. Actual, Monbana Chocolats, VandB, Bleu Blanc Planète Location and the Department of Mayenne have chosen to invest in this sport for the visibility it offers.
Yves Le Blévec, Maxime Sorel and Hervé Thomas are all three Bretons. But, they will fly the colors of Mayenne and many Mayenne supporters (especially schoolchildren) will closely follow the race of these three boats.
Hervé Thomas on Bleu Blanc Planète Location (Class 40)
The least known of the three sailors is Herve Thomas. At 56, the skipper of the Class 40 Blue White Planet Bicycle will discover Rum, one year after the Transat Jacques Vabre. His objective, to reach Point-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe.
Maxime Sorel on VandB-Monbana-Mayenne (Imoca)
It will not be a discovery for Maxime Sorel, what? Third participation in the Route du Rhum for the Cancalais (36 years old): a victory in Class 40 Vintage in 2014 and a retirement in 2018. But this Transat will be the first solo race with his brand new boat VandB Monbana Mayenne, an 18-meter monohull with foils launched last June. Before playing for a place in the ranking, caution will be required. Objective, qualify for the next Vendée Globe and keep the boat intact.
Yves Le Blévec on Actual Ultim 3 (Ultim)
Ambitions are higher for Yves Le Blévec (57 years old). He too had mixed fortunes with Actual on the Rum: a retirement in 2010 and a 4th place in 2014 in multi-50. This will be his first Route du Rhum in Ultim. Without being the favourite, Le Blévec can hope to get on the podium, but the competition is fierce among the eight giant trimarans at the start.