Interview with Denis: 2023 recap and 2024 objectives

Without a doubt it was the meeting I had with D’Ieteren Group and signing our contract. It enabled me to get the project on a firm footing from a financial viewpoint and it was a real challenge for me.

Next, we took part in the shooting of a new film with the boat. That gave us a chance to discover an environment that was completely alien to us and something we were able to contribute to by providing them with a true insight into the sailing aspect. It was a fantastic experience.

Linking together two transatlantic races in a row with just 5 days respite between the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Retour à La Base.

In sporting, human and logistical terms it was a real challenge, which we overcame thanks to the team. Some of them took unpaid leave to come to Le Havre and Martinique so it was a combined effort.

Our team and our way of working require personal sacrifice and a great deal of planning.*

*Note that Denis’ team is made up entirely of volunteers.

We’ve had some great races and each time we’ve set sail in fairly complicated conditions. That was kind of the common thread of the past season: a lot of wind at all the race starts. For the Rolex Fastnet, we had 45 knots of upwind conditions.

The Défi Azimut programme was adapted due to the weather conditions. The start of the Transat Jacques Vabre was delayed due to a massive storm and finally, in the Retour à La Base, we had normal breeze, albeit with two or three gales to contend with. It was an intense, interesting and eventful 2023.

Overall, it was a positive year, as I did a lot of sailing, which meant I could rack up a number of miles for the Vendée Globe points tally. With regard to the team, we’ve raised our game on every level. We’ve demonstrated resilience and adaptability in what were not the easiest of situations.

Another of my main takeaways from 2023 is my meeting and my collaboration with Gilles. He has taught me a great deal through his sense of precision and his values. He’s a business manager and he answered my call to compete in the Transat Jacques Vabre despite it being very last minute. For me, it was a great moment of solidarity between sailors. He’s someone who has values and who wants to perform well. He advised me and gave me tips. It was a wonderful coming together of minds.

To start with, we’re going to carry out a winter refit over the course of January, then I’ll visit D’Ieteren Group’s subsidiaries before getting back down to preparing for the races.

Breaking the boat in one of the next two transatlantic passages in what is a Vendée Globe year. That is what a skipper fears the most, so I’m going to remain cautious.

The Vendée Globe of course! I’m eager to get 2024 started, work on the boat, go sailing and get down to training.

I’m going to do two single-handed races, which is very good training and the switch from one to another will be simpler than in 2023 with the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre linking straight onto the solo Retour à La Base.

I relish it because I enjoy sharing what we’re doing and the aim of the sponsorship programme with D’Ieteren Group revolves around being able to share what we’re experiencing.

It’s going to be interesting. They form part of the project, they’re part of the D’Ieteren family. I kind of consider all of them as uncles or cousins, so it’s only natural to want to go and tell them my stories as you do with your family over a coffee on a Sunday afternoon.

To conclude, we had an excellent 2023 and I hope that 2024 will be just as wonderful.