Martin Le Pape – Mathilde Géron: “Don’t give up until the finish”

WORDS FROM A DUO. He is undoubtedly the most experienced skipper on the roster, and one of the most talented too. Martin Le Pape is part of the history of the Transat Paprec, preparing to compete in the race for the 5th time. With his wealth of experience in Class40 and IMOCA, the Concarneau native is a complete skipper, equipped for the top spots. At his side, Mathilde Géron learned her trade in Olympic sailing and then started offshore in Ocean Fifty. Her sense of commitment and her ability to fight will be valuable assets, in addition to Martin's experience. A complementary combination aboard Demain that will make them one of the favorite duos of this edition.

Martin, where does your passion for this race come from? Martin: It comes from the beginning. It's the race that launched me into the Figaro circuit and into ocean racing professionally. My first participation was in 2014. I think I'm talking about the Transat Paprec because I'm the oldest (laughs)! For me, it's a race that counts. We leave from home, I live in Concarneau, and the one-design race is a blast. It's the sailors who make the difference. There's nothing comparable in the world of ocean racing. Mathilde, you definitely have a fresh perspective. What motivates you when you do this race?

Mathilde : It seems pretty crazy in terms of intensity. From what I've been told, you must spend many, many hours at the bar. That means you have to be on it all the time. What's striking when we do training sessions is that we sometimes arrive with less than a minute between each other. It can be close right to the end, and I like the idea of being in constant contact. In addition to long-term strategy, there are tactics.

What are the keys to performance?

Martin : There are many of them, and I don't think I've found them all! The important thing is to keep pushing until the finish. Since the boat is identical for everyone, it comes down to details. The competition is fierce because many of us train all year round and we really know the boat inside and out.

"A lot of things are going to happen!"

How did your duo form? Martin: I had really identified the profile I was looking for in terms of skills. To perform, I needed to be partnered with someone who knows how to see things through and who is tough; someone who has a high-level culture and experience, which Mathilde has with her years of Olympic experience. And then it was important to have a good feeling and get along well because we're going away for nearly 20 days together!

Is being associated with Martin an added motivation?

Mathilde: Yes, absolutely. It's a project that can be a winner, which makes it all the more stimulating. You don't want to give up even if you know it's going to be hard and that it's going to come down to details. The idea is really to give it your all and be 100% so you don't regret anything in Saint-Barthélemy.

Who are the favorites?

Martin: In a transatlantic race, it's always hard to identify favorites. We can always name a few names that could potentially be on the podium. But so much can happen in such a comprehensive race that it's hard to say. Charlotte Yven, the defending champion, and Hugo Dhallenne (Skipper Macif) are among the favorites, that's obvious. After that, there are plenty of outsiders who could surprise us.

Mathilde: We also have to take into account all the hazards. Equipment, people, the ability to cope with difficult conditions... A lot of things will happen.

Mathilde, can you describe the sensations on board a Figaro?

Mathilde: After years of flying and very fast boats, it's not easy to return to a slower craft. But that's what makes it even more interesting because there are few gaps between the boats. This game of always being in contact and not giving up, all the time, is really cool.