For the upcoming Transat Jacques Vabre race, Lalou Roucayrol is calling on an experienced and highly talented yachtswoman, Karine Fauconnier. In 2016, Karine joined Team Arkema Lalou Multi as weather router in the Transat, before acting as navigator in the Transat Québec - St Malo, which was to be a winning race for the Multi50 Arkema trimaran. This collaboration now continues with Lalou and Karine making up a fighting mixed double-handed crew that benefits from unique multihull experience!
A complementary twosome
Lalou Roucayrol and Karine Fauconnier have a very strong case for the 2017 edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre scheduled to sail from Le Havre to Salvador de Bahia in Brazil later this year on 5th November!
We called on Karine in 2016 to help us optimize the boat’s performance. She joined the winning team in our successful Transat Québec – St Malo race. Her profile as a winner and her experience were exactly what we needed to drive the Team forward. We will complement each other extremely well on board: Karine is highly knowledgeable in weather analysis and will be in charge of navigation and performance, whereas I will be looking more after the workings and operation of the boat.
I know the route, I know the boat, I know the guy! These are huge assets in making up a fighting team. There will be high standards and fierce competition as we sail from Le Havre, and we have to give ourselves every chance of success. The strength of our twosome comes from our many skills. Our shared multihull experience with Lalou will help us find the right balance.
A multihull ready for the challenge
Currently undergoing its winter refit, the Arkema Multi50 will be returned to the water in April after being fitted with its new monotype foils. So they can get thoroughly used to the trimaran, now more competitive, Lalou Roucayrol and the Team will take part in the various events of the Multi50 circuit. “We need to learn about these new appendages, which will inevitably change the way the boat handles. They will make it more airborne and more reliable. The boat will be able to achieve faster average speeds.”, concludes Lalou Roucayrol.