Damien Seguin: "I like to prove it is possible to sail at this very high level with a disability!"

Pretty good, I'm happy to be in Les Sables, I feel a lot of goodwill from the public. Four years ago, we didn't have the chance to enjoy this atmosphere, so I'm making the most of it.

I had imagined it before the finish! It's an option we had already anticipated with my sponsor before the start, they were already convinced to sign again. It's a chance, but it doesn't make everything easier!

At the time, there were several reasons. We didn't have the time or the means to build a new boat, but clearly the idea with our partner was to aim for more performance after a first experience to discover the Vendée Globe, so we wanted a good boat. We wanted one which was already reliable, but capable of evolving. And there, there weren't many boats on the market which met these criteria either... and the defending champion was perfect!

Of course, compared to the version we bought, there have been changes! But that was part of the initial plan, we had already thought about the developments we wanted to make. Well, the dismasting was not expected (laughs), but ultimately it did not come at such a bad time. We had eight months of work in total, we changed a lot of things, starting of course with the foils, but also the structure. We completely brought the boat up to standard, and what is great is that we never had to go back on what we had done. Since then, we have updated as we went along to improve performance, but really in detail, and that is extremely satisfying for a competitor like me.

Yes that was a big opportunity. With a more ambitious project, I was lucky to have a bigger team, but retaining the same solid base of people in whom I have total confidence, and so I left them the management of the refit while I went off to gain experience to better understand these boats with large foils, which are still very complex machines. I was able to do the first three stages of The Ocean Race with Paul Meilhat, and race again to the Southern Ocean which is obviously good learning, but also sail with Sam Davies, who is very experienced. And then it also allowed me to build miles for my Vendée Globe qualification along the way.

Yes, I'm pretty satisfied with my preparation. Some races didn't go so well but we took the time to analyse why, and overall everything is going in the right direction. In any case, I have no regrets about the way the last few years have gone. Afterwards, you really have to understand that the Vendée Globe is a totally different race, one on which absolutely anything can happen.

The goal is to have progressed in terms of the sport performance. I am, after all, a competitor. So I expect a performance on this race. We have done all we can but of course there's no guarantee of success. So I put this goal in the back of my mind, I'm quite comfortable with it, and I want to have fun on this boat. It's not necessarily a foregone conclusion because these are very physically difficult boats. And I find that it's ultimately more difficult to start a second Vendée Globe than a first. The first time, you do what you can. The second time, you're aware of the difficulty, the length, the intensity. You're anticipating more and that makes things more complicated.

Yes, well I have set the bar a bit high (laughs)! I performed well on an old boat with daggerboards, so it’s true that it was pretty crazy. But that’s also what’s beautiful is you can’t rule out any scenario, we know that well enough now that we’ve seen that so many things can happen. But I’ll be giving it everything. 

Physical injury, yes, always, anything that means you can’t perform well. A collision at sea would be devastating. But that will also be part of the game, and it’s hard in these races that you spend four years preparing for with all your soul and energy.

Mentally, I did a lot of work after the Vendée Globe, because the first few months just after are really difficult, fortunately I have very good support. And above all, we have refined the ergonomics aboard the boat a lot, to try to make life as easy as possible on what we can control. What is nice is to hear people on the pontoon say that it is a new boat, or at least super clean. For a sailor, it is always nice to feel like you are setting off on a perfectly prepared boat!

Yes, it is a source of pride, especially since this year, we are doubling the number of participants with disabilities with Xu (Jingkun, who lost his left forearm at the age of 12). It’s good to be the first, but it’s no great to be the only one! Inspiring. Inspiring others to want to do it was clearly part of the non-sporting goals we set for ourselves. I don’t really like the term “role model”, but I like to show that it’s possible to sail at a very high level even when you have a disability!

It was an offer I couldn’t refuse (laughs)! It was crazy when Tony Estanguet called me, I was really happy. For me, it’s a great recognition to do this alongside John McFall, the first para-astronaut, it was very symbolic. The Paralympic team is my family, I want to continue to play a role in it. At one time, I was asked to make a choice, but I don't see why I wouldn't continue to play on both sides. Keep a supporting role on the side of the Paralympic athletes, and on the other continue my career in ocean racing, with the other sailors. Show that it's possible, that you can have a disability and not be locked in or limited by it. In any case, I feel comfortable like that.

Ah it's not easy! I would say the first tacks and the first real flight after the big work. We were biting our nails a little after these eight months of waiting, there wasn't much wind but it was precisely ideal conditions, and suddenly the boat lifts off, you have no more noise, you have the impression of being in another world. And you tell yourself that it was all worth it.

We’ll see I don't want to spoil the surprise... but people often talk to me about this costume! At the time, I didn't think it would make such an impression, but in hindsight I'm happy about it, bringing a little self-mockery, showing that we can joke about it. We reworked the concept a bit but I hope you'll like it too!