Nothing predisposed Romain Attanasio to become a sailor, since he was born into a family of... high level skiers, from the Hautes-Alpes. As a child, he nevertheless spent all his holidays with a great uncle in Port Navalo. This one took him to sea aboard his Poker, a small family cruiser from the 70s. The destinations were then not very far away: Houat, Hoedic, Belle Ile-en-Mer, the Gulf of Morbihan.
The browser virus is taken. As a teenager, Romain was passionate about big ocean races from his boarding school room in Compiègne. He begins in drifter at the local club and then, against all odds, manages to join the sports-study section of La Baule, by laser. In one school year, he discovered a real talent for sailing.
He managed to set up a Mini 6.50 project, but in 1999 a huge storm hit the Bay of Biscay and his first major ocean race experience - the Mini Transat - was frightening: the boat was turned over, saved in extremis by a cargo ship, then hoisted and repatriated to Spain and France.
Without clothes, without paper and with an improbable look, "I arrive at Orly in flip-flops and tracksuits', with a garbage bag in my hand... Today, I would be arrested by the police with such a look!"
Failed? Not exactly, because his partner at the time found the start experience exciting and gave him the means to continue in Figaro Bénéteau. Romain joins the Pôle Finistère of Port-La-Forêt, the royal road for a Figarist. He is becoming one of its pillars, with excellent results in line with La Solitaire du Figaro and the Transat AG2R. He will follow ten seasons, while also sailing for the best in multihulls, at the time of the Orma trimarans: with Michel Desjoyeaux first on Géant, then with Franck Cammas on Groupama. A skilled strategist, he is often hired as a navigator.
After completing his first round the world voyage in the Vendée Globe 2016-17 in 110 days, Romain is already preparing for the 2020-21 edition.
After completing his first round-the-world race during the 2016-17 Vendée Globe in 110 days, Romain chose to repeat the experience four years later on Fabrice Amedeo's former IMOCA (Gitana80 designed for Loick Peyron). He then finished his single-handed round-the-world race 14th in 90 days.
A few weeks after crossing the finish line of the round the world race, Romain announced the purchase of Boris Herrmann's Malizia, a powerful and high-performance foiler, as well as the arrival of Fortinet, a company specialising in cyber security, at his side. With Best Western also as a loyal partner, Romain can now look forward to the Vendée Globe 2024 with confidence and great ambitions.
In 2021, despite the discovery phase of his new boat, the skipper took part in the IMOCA GLOBE SERIES events and finished in a very good seventh place in the Transat Jacques Vabre with his great accomplice, Sébastien Marsset. The following year, he finished 10th in the Route du Rhum.
In 2022, the sailor will meet the collaborators of his sponsor Fortinet from London to Lisbon via Gosport, and this adventure will continue in 2023 as the sailor will head for the Mediterranean where he will stop in the ports of Marseilles, Genoa and Barcelona with the same objective of discovering the world of IMOCA.
We'll have to be clever: it's certainly a race, but the main objective is to bring the boat back in good condition. Because we'll have already done a transatlantic just before and there's the winter refit in the wake, which is one of the most important! This will be the last single-handed trial before the 2024 season and the Vendée Globe. The watchword will be caution. The course is particularly demanding, with autumn conditions and storms... Given its position in the calendar and its route, this may well be the most difficult race of the season. It will be essential to be on your guard at all times!
You just have to bring a guy along (Laughs)! People often say that it's twice as easy with two people, but it's actually TEN times easier! It takes two people a minute to trim a sail from bow to stern, whereas it takes ten minutes on your own. It's like in life, everything's easier with two people: you comfort each other, you support each other, you help each other out. Alone, you spend your time doubting, wondering if you've made the right choice. The transition from double to solo is not going to be easy.
First of all, my team will be there to prepare the boat and do their best. I think there's no better place to rest than Martinique... Even if it's short, it's going to feel like a holiday!
2022
Route du Rhum - 10e
Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 8e
2021
Transat Jacques Vabre - 7e
2020
Vendée Globe - 14e (90j 02h 46m 02s)
2019
Transat Jacques Vabre - 15e
2018
Route du Rhum - 13e
Dhream Cup - 5e
2017
Transat Jacques Vabre - 13e avec Aurélien Ducroz
2016
Vendée Globe - 15e
2015
Transat Jacques Vabre - 9e avec Louis Burton
2014
Transat AG2R - 4e avec Sam Davies
2004
Transat AG2R - 3e avec Nicolas Béranger
Name : Fortinet - Best Western
Architect : VPLP / Verdier
Building : 2015, Chantier Multiplast, Vannes
Launching : 08/06/2015
Old names : Gitana 16 - Edmond de Rotschild, Malizia II - Yacht Club de Monaco
Lenght : 18,28m
Beam : 5,70m
Draught : 4,50m
Weight : 8 tonnes
Mast height : 29m
Mast type : Mât-aile
Foils : yes
Upwind : 290 m2
Downwind : 490 m2
The DNA of Romain's project is based on a group of companies of all sizes, ranging from title partners - Fortinet and Best Western France - to the Partners Club and Sixième Océan.
FortinetA world leader in cybersecurity, Fortinet ensures the security of public authorities, businesses and some of the largest service providers in the world.
An international group of independent 3, 4 and 5 star hotels, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts has 4,700 hotels throughout the world, including almost 300 in France.
In 2023, Romain became a partner of PLAY International, an NGO specialising in education through sport for vulnerable young people. Romain hasn't always been a good student, but his ability to never give up and to realise his dreams has led him to make a living from his passion. Through this NGO, he talks to young people about their passions and breaking down barriers.
