Alan Roura is a precocious sailor. After spending his childhood on the water, on Lake Geneva, and eleven years sailing around the world with his family, he took part in his first major race when he was just 20.
Mini Transat, Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre... Alan tried his hand at (almost) everything, and quickly learned the ropes in ocean racing. Before tackling the Holy Grail of the sport: the 2016 Vendée Globe, which he finished in 12th place, becoming the youngest skipper in history to finish the race, at just 23 years of age.
Four years later, he was again the youngest skipper at the start of the ninth edition, which he finished 17th. Not spared by technical problems, he nevertheless completed his second consecutive solo round the world voyage after 95 days of painstaking racing, but rich in lessons for a third participation already in the making.
At the age of 30, two-time finisher of the 'Everest of the Seas' and North Atlantic record holder, the Genevan is now thinking even bigger. With a wealth of experience, a new maturity and the support of new partners, the Swiss sailor aspires to be one of the favourites, at the helm of a boat that is performing even better. His head is still full of dreams and he's still smiling from ear to ear.
I confirmed my qualification for the Vendée Globe with the Route du Rhum last year, so we've got a big refit behind us, so we can really afford to pull on the boat. I want to be in the game, to take a bit of revenge after the 'Rhum', the Retour à La Base being my second major solo race aboard the boat. I want to apply everything we've learnt on the boat after a double-handed season. It will also be good training for the Vendée, a good preparation for leaving the West Indies tired.
The big challenge will be to get back into the swing of things as a solo sailor in a very short space of time. I'm lucky enough to already be familiar with my boat as a solo sailor, and the way Simon and I are working this year is the same as two solo sailors, so the transition should be fairly easy. To recuperate as quickly as possible, I'd like to do a few more day sails in Martinique, to stay in the swing of things, at a pace that takes rest into account. If the boat isn't in good shape, I'll have to take a proper break. I still have to discuss this with my mental coach and my sleep coach to see what they think.
I'm glad I don't have Simon on board, he would have eaten everything! (Laughs) I've got a small team, so we don't communicate about it, but we're very careful on a daily basis about how we treat our waste, how we travel, particularly by train or by car pooling to Switzerland, how we use second-hand parts, products and materials... And I know that the members of the team have a lifestyle where everyone is sensitive to this issue and watches their behaviour.
2019
Transat Jacques Vabre - 21ème
Record Atlantique Nord en solo, 7j 16h 55mn
2018
Route du Rhum - 7e
2017
Transat Jacques Vabre - 9ème
2016
Vendée Globe - 12ème
2015
Transat Jacques Vabre - 10e
2013
Mini Transat - 11ème
Name : HUBLOT
Architect :VPLP / Pete Hobson
Building : 2019, Carrington Boats, Southampton
Launching : 08/04/2019
Old names :Hugo Boss
Lenght : 18,28m
Beam : 5,40m
Draught : 4,50m
Weight : 7,6 tonnes
Mast height : 29m
Mast type : Mât-aile
Foils : yes
Upwind : 330 m2
Downwind : 630 m2
HUBLOT
Founded in Switzerland in 1980, HUBLOT is distinguished by its innovative concept resulting from the unique combination of gold and rubber: the "Art of Fusion".Hublot and sailing have a long history, dating back to the origins of the brand in 1980. Nearly 25 years later, the watchmaker has chosen Alan Roura to mark his return to the most legendary race of all !
Bonhôte
Founded in 1815, Banque Bonhôte is a Swiss private bank specialising in wealth management. It has its head office in Neuchâtel and branches in Geneva, Lausanne, Biel/Bienne, Solothurn and Zurich.
The Solano group, a temporary employment agency set up in 2007 by transport and logistics professionals, is continuing to expand with a network of 42 agencies in France, Switzerland and Morocco, under the Solano Emploi and Solano Multitech banners.
