Sébastien Simon: "My daily work has already resumed"

I still feel very tired. I haven't really had time to relax. I'm trying to get back into the work rhythm. We are a small team: I have to be back at it, there are a lot of things to organize, I can't delegate everything. But apart from the lack of time to catch up on my lost sleep, morale is good.
 

I was very touched by the announcement from Groupe Dubreuil to continue our project through the next Vendée Globe in 2028. This of course if great but then there is no let up, there is a lot of  work and organization. So my daily work schedule has resumed: from a briefing at 8:30 a.m. with the team, a day of work then a sports session from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. to prepare for the Ironman.

I know that I am not at the level I was at the start of the race. After more than 60 days at sea, my body is inevitably tired. I lost four centimetres around my thighs and calves. I’m going to have to do some basic training to rebuild myself physically!
 

Of course, you have to force yourself a bit! But then I also have friends who are passionate about sport and who are very fit, that motivates me! I’ve obviously lost a bit of fitness. But the idea will be to be there for the Ironman on 22nd June.
 

I’m obviously really happy but I never take anything for granted. Finishing third in the Vendée Globe is not an end in itself. I dream of going further and maybe even being in a position to win it one day. We can be proud of what we have accomplished and I am convinced that we can still improve.

In this edition, the level was very consistent and the boats were better prepared. Before it was said you really had to look after the boat, now this is no longer the case: you have to ask the boats much more to achieve a good result. If you are not at full speed all the time, you cannot win.

For the moment, we are studying all the opportunities with Marion Cardon, my team manager. Building a boat is a real challenge that requires strengthening the team. We will never be as large a team as Macif, Paprec Arkéa, Charal. We will focus mainly on defining the limits of the project before considering the paths for the future.

I have no idea. On the other hand, I can’t imagine new IMOCAs without a technological advantage.  I think the boats will go faster than the current generation. It’s a fascinating thought. Now, it’s mainly a question of timing: we have to make sure we get moving quickly to succeed in setting up a great project.

That’s my state of mind. Until we have set our parameters for the future, I know it will be difficult to switch off. And then it’s part of my way of doing things to stay involved in managing the project. It makes me smile to know that some skippers who have completed the Vendée Globe have time to take a holiday! But that suits me fine, I need to be busy! 

Yes, sometimes, even if I feel like I've already forgotten all the bad times. What's incredible is the preparation that we've done with my small team, we couldn't have done better! It's going to give us valuable experience to draw the right conclusions and continue to move forward.

Above all, I want to live up to the opportunity that I'm being offered. It's a matter of decision-making, of choices. I want to take on new challenges, to further explore my limits, to try to do better. I also want to prove to all those who support me that they are right to trust me. It is never easy to embark on this kind of adventure and I will never take it lightly.