Alexis Thomas / Pauline Courtois (Wings of the Ocean): “It’s the fulfillment of a childhood dream”

INTERVIEW Between two replies, Alexis Thomas, contacted this morning, apologizes for “having completely lost track of the day and time.” And yet, despite the fatigue and repeated efforts, the skipper—on his first transatlantic race—and Pauline Courtois (Wings of the Ocean) are off to an impressive start. Since their bold maneuver around La Palma on Sunday, they’ve held first place in the rankings. After a particularly intense night between Monday and Tuesday, Alexis took the time to reflect on their performance and look ahead to the rest of the race. While their bodies are tired, their spirits are far from worn down.

Last night was particularly intense. How did you handle it?

“Yes, it was pretty full-on! We had prepared for it—we cleaned the boat, dried our gear, even prepped food so we wouldn’t need to go back inside during our watches. What was surprising is that the front seemed to pass twice: first with 21 knots, and then a second time with even stronger and trickier conditions.”

“We have nothing to be ashamed of!”

That must take a toll on your energy levels…

“Yeah, we’re getting a bit on edge: we haven’t had any rest since the Portuguese trade winds. It’s really hard to sleep, and that affects morale. Plus, we’re living in constant dampness and cold—we’re always wet… Last night we only slept in 30-minute bursts. You had to stay on it, even though we’re totally burned out!”

Still, you’ve had a great start to the race!

“Yes, for sure—it’s really satisfying. We’ve made good tactical choices, sailed great lines, hit great speeds… We have nothing to be ashamed of! We knew before the start that we had what it takes to fight at the front. And now that we’re there, we’re happy!”

Tell us about the bold decision to hug the coast around La Palma.

“I spent a lot of time before the race studying the weather and possible scenarios, especially focusing on potential site effects. The lack of wind pushed us to get close to the shore. As the wind built, we figured it could work under the big spinnaker. Seeing Martin Le Pape and Mathilde Géron (DEMAIN) get even closer to the coast helped us know when not to push it too far. It was a bit risky, but we held on and stayed in our wind corridor afterward.”

“What’s certain is that more drama is coming!”

The rest of the week looks challenging…

“Yeah, sometimes I wonder why we’re pushing so hard now! I think there’s going to be a big compression of the fleet soon. The weather models agree there’s a depression ahead to navigate around in two days, followed by a huge windless area spanning 500 miles (926 km). We’ll need to decide whether to go north or south of it, but it’s still a bit early to tell. I’m studying every new weather model, comparing them… What’s certain is that more drama is coming!”

You and Pauline seem to have a great connection. What’s your dynamic like on board?

“We didn’t know each other before, but there’s a great chemistry between us. Pauline is very easy to live with and has nerves of steel. We’re totally in sync when it comes to physical commitment. She’s a great helmswoman and knows how to go fast… and I trust her. We also try to look out for each other, check in, and make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.”

What moments from the race so far will stick with you the most?

“Our passage past La Palma, the way we sliced through the fleet—that was unforgettable. And it’s also the first time in my life I’ve seen flying fish. They’re such cute little creatures! I had promised myself the first time I saw them would be on a transatlantic crossing. And here I am. It really is the fulfillment of a childhood dream!”