“It’s a little tight, I’m tired, it was hard and rarely so intense, but I’m happy to have won”… Tom Laperche is enjoying his victory this Wednesday morning in the big race of the “Le Havre All Mer Cup”, the second event of the French offshore racing championship season. Already winner of the first event on the Figaro Bénéteau circuit, the Solo Maître Coq, just a month ago, the sailor on the monohull Région Bretagne CMB Performance had to fight to win in one breath after 2 days and 17 hours of race. He was thus ahead of Loïs Berrehar (Skipper Macif 2022) by 45 seconds and Erwan Le Draoulec (Skipper Macif 2020) by 1’49”, Corentin Horeau, one of the great leaders of this long tour in the Channel, ranking fourth at 2’29.
“I started average from Le Havre but managed under the south coast of England to be second. We then broke away with Corentin but the fleet came back in the last part of Brittany-Cotentin. We all got together and the last leg last night under spinnaker towards Le Havre was exhausting. It’s cool to win, I’m very happy but the event has not yet been won, there are still coastal courses (Thursday and Friday)”, confides Tom Laperche to Figaro.
With this success, he confirms his good start to the season and his status as the favorite for the Solitaire du Solitaire at the end of August. “I’m up to speed in terms of speed and I’m making progress in terms of strategy on the water, it’s coming, he notes. I’m working on it, because that’s what I missed to win the last Solitaire. Being confident in my choices and able to get out of the pack to take shots, while managing the risk. In order to win and win ahead…”
Embarked for a time on board François Gabart’s trimaran Ultim SVR-Lazartigue, the very one which was not deemed to be compliant by those responsible for the class of flying boats and should see its destiny for the Route du rhum played out in front of the courts, Tom Laperche found his little Figaro Bénéteau 3 with pleasure. “Everything is easier when you decide to maneuver ten seconds later. They are two completely different sports. You go ten times slower in Figaro but there is more fight in contact and strategy. And it’s always a pleasure to fight with the little friends. You have to go the extra mile to perform…” And to hope to win the timpani in this Solitaire du Figaro which is eyeing him, without letting himself be conquered for the moment.
For what should be his last Figaro season, his contract with the Brittany Region CMB Performance sector ending at the end of the year, “after three and a half years which have gone very well”, the Breton wants to finish “with a beautiful solitary”. The following ? “I don’t really know,” he admits. The Imoca for the Vendée Globe will be in 2028. And by then I would like to do Multi 50 and Ultim. I love multihulls, it’s the most exhilarating and the most committed”…
Big Race Ranking:
1. Tom Laperche (Bretagne Region CMB Performance) in 2 days 17 h 48’18”2. Loïs Berrehar (Skipper Macif 2022) 45” from first3. Erwan Le Draoulec (Skipper Macif 2020) at 1’49”4. Corentin Horeau (Mutuelle Bleue) at 2’29”5. Guillaume Pirouelle (Normandy Region) at 9’36”6. Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) at 23’17”7. Philippe Hartz (National Navy – Sea Foundation) at 23’43”8. Alan Roberts (Seacat Services) at 24’41”9. Tom Dolan (Smurffit Kappa – Kingspan) at 25’47”10. Elodie Bonafous (Quéguiner – La Vie en Rose) 26’48”11. Charlotte Yven (Team Vendée Botte Foundations)12. Gaston Morvan (Brittany Region CMB Espoir) at 31’52”13. Pep Costa (Team Play to B) at 34’52”14. Nils Palmieri (Teamwork) at 35’13”15. Laurent Bourgues (Become Partners) at 35’49”…
