On Monday, April 20 (delayed by one day due to weather conditions), our big-hearted partners, Damien Le Moign and Alexandre Noël, set off on the transatlantic race they had been preparing for months: the Cap-Martinique !
Setting a course for lasting trust…
As you know, we decided to support these two skippers in their adventure starting last year, but the story actually began 20 years earlier. Wichard had already sponsored them when they took part in the Melges World Championship in San Francisco, where they finished 21st out of 90 competitors!
This time, the young men have become forty-somethings. They have left behind their families and friends for the duration of what promises to be a memorable competition. However, “behind” is probably not the right word, since it is precisely for their loved ones, and especially Damien’s wife, who suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis, that the two friends committed to this meaningful race, in partnership with the Arthritis Foundation. Their goal and motivation are always right in front of them.
It was also important for Damien and Alexandre to create a connection between their trusted partners. That is why they offered the new Wichard Aquaterra knives (Tropical and Anemona colors) to those who have supported them for so long, during the christening of their boat.
That said, the sailors set off with much more than just Wichard knives.
… with equipment built to last…
Among their latest acquisitions are both iconic products and promising new releases:
• Large-opening FRXP friction rings
• A Ronstan swiveling fairlead & cam cleat, distributed by Wichard, for lines from 3 to 12 mm (Ref. RF58)
• Our new moulded stick-on padeyes in white (Ref. 6666)
• The iconic safety snap hooks Ref. 2479
• Multi-purpose plastic snap hooks (Ref. MQ00372)
• Wichinox for maintaining deck hardware (Ref. 9605)
• Not to mention the new Speedlink trigger snap shackles, featuring an enhanced locking mechanism for improved safety at sea (Ref. 2662, 2664, 2666). We are particularly eager to receive their feedback on this innovation.
In addition, they have equipped their boat, Ciboulette, with Profurl products to make furling their headsails easier:
• A Profurl NEX1.5 furler with ratchet, allowing the sail to be furled in both directions
• A swivel eye adapted to the NEX1.5
• A free tack shackle for this furler
All these elements will, we hope, ensure both their safety and performance!
… so our skippers are ready for the long haul!
Since their departure, as privileged partners, we have been fortunate to receive regular updates from our adventurers. Everything is going relatively well so far. Intense moments are sometimes followed by periods of complete calm. They went, for example, from 48 knots to… 0 knots overnight!
Like many of their competitors, Damien and Alexandre chose a southern route, hoping to benefit from the trade winds. At the time of writing, they are in the top 10 (8th place!). Fair winds to them!
Finally, we invite you to follow their journey, as we do, via the race tracker.