SolOceans - News - Fabien Delahaye onboard the SolOceans one-design (04/15/2009)

Fabien Delahaye onboard the SolOceans one-design

Wednesday April 15th 2009 News RSS

Fabien Delahaye*, skipper of the Figaro Bénéteau Port de Caen Ouistreham, sailed onboard the SolOceans one-design between 3 and 5 April, from (Normandy - France) towards Belle-Ile and Lorient (Brittany - France) in order to be at the start of the Transat BPE. It was his first navigation onboard that kind of big oceanic racing yachts. Fabien Delahaye gave us his impressions about the oceanic one-design Class created to take part in the 2009 Transat Jacques Vabre, the 2010 Route du Rhum and the 2011-2012 SolOceans.

Fabien Delahaye on board the SolOceans one-design - April 2009 Fabien Delahaye at the helm of the SolOceans one-design between Caen (Normandy - France) and Lorient (Brittany - France)
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"We had better weather conditions when we were sailing North of Brittany with a breeze between force 3 and 4. We were beating, full and by with the mainsail high and the Jib. We also sailed with the Code 0 in the calm weather and also the Gennaker. She was going fast! We had lots of calm period and at one point no wind at all. We had to use the engine in order to arrive on time for the start of the Transat BPE in Belle-Ile."

"My first impression after this sailing session onboard the SolOceans one-design is that it’s really fun! It instantly reminded me of the Open 7.50 but bigger of course. But the concept is the same. A planning hull, a wing mast, a gaff-sail. The proportions of this boat are good. She is made for solo sailing."

"I am not used to sailing on big boats. But on the SolOceans one-design, I instantly felt at ease steering her. You easily find your bearings. It’s easy to manoeuvre on your own. I have a good impression. I felt safe."

"I was lucky enough to sail with Eric Loizeau. It’s such an easy boat that we didn’t need to talk to each other constantly to keep going. You do manoeuvre after manoeuvre easily. It was a great experience for me."

"I would be very happy to sail again onboard the SolOceans one-design under a breeze with waves and a leading wind as if I am doing a circumnavigation. She must go fast. Like an Open 7,50 but bigger and more powerful."

"As a conclusion for this sailing session onboard the SolOceans one-design, I would say that I now want to race Transatlantic races such as the Jacques Vabre or the Route du Rhum and a round-the-world race like the SolOceans. Thanks to this boat, I want to go sailing offshore as a soloist."

* At 25 years old, Fabien Delahaye, who was born in Rouen but who now lives in Caen (Lower Normandy - France), started sailing at the age of nine. From the start, he has sailed under the colours of the Société des Régates de Caen Ouistreham (SRCO). He started his sailing career on dinghy (470), and then went on sailing on one-designs (Mumm 30, 747 One Design) as tactician and helmsman. Onboard the Port de Caen Ouistreham Open 7.50, this young sailor was noticed after his victories in the Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale and the Semaine de Deauville in 2008. Even if he still races onboard the Open 7.50, Fabien Delahaye entered last year the Figaro Bénéteau Class where he is doing impressive progress onboard Port de Caen Ouistreham. Logically, this will lead Fabien Delahaye from the Figaro Bénéteau French single-handed Championship circuit to Transatlantic races open to the SolOceans one-design class with in mind the SolOceans race that will leave from his home port and eventually the Vendée Globe. He has talent and his futur is wide open.