12 Jul The first half of the year has been full-on!

We made you a promise and we’ve delivered: the first half of the year has been full-on!

I’ve taken part in 5 Championnat de France Elite de Course au Large 2024 races, with the season’s highlight due to take place this summer: the legendary Solitaire of Figaro Paprec, the main event of the championship.
I’m currently lying in 4th place in the Championship and I’m happy because I’ve managed to boost my confidence levels in the run-up to the Solitaire.

It’s my 7th consecutive season in the Figaro class and I’m keen to put my experience to good account to really do my best in every race for this new season.

The primary aim remains the Solitaire and my key motivation is to ensure that I’m running on all cylinders at that point. I’m going to focus on my sailing. I’ve dissected and noted all the mistakes I’ve made since the start of the season. My goal is to continue raising my game and progressing.

To conclude, I’d like to thank all my sponsors, my partners and my fellow sailors with whom I’ve sailed over the past season, together with family, friends and my team. Offshore racing is very much a collective adventure. Your unconditional support is prompting me to give my best and fly the flag for the values we share to encourage a sustainable world and it is a journey that involves every single one of us.

(Copyright: Gilles Dedeurwaerder)

Picture gallery of the past few months

February – A special day organised by Smurfit-Kappa for the children of the Action enfance association  
On the menu: a tour of the boat and a trip out on the water with the children.
I got to see firsthand the smiles on the children’s faces, I heard them laugh and I gave them the chance to discover the sea.
We also got the teachers who devote their lives to the well-being of these children out sailing. It was something concrete; a chance to do something nice for them, and I was incredibly moved by that.
To find out more about the association  click here.

April – The end of a very lively transatlantic passage in Class40, which resulted in a 4th place! Thank you to Achille Nebout for his trust in us. (Copyright: Jean-Marie Liot)

May – Kingspan’s participation in the Trophée Banque Populaire Grand Ouest.
A fantastic opportunity to sail in race mode, to get to know one another better, to discuss the Planet Passionate programme and the actions we need to undertake together with the group’s commitment.
“It was a very enjoyable occasion! We took the helm and went out sailing together. We’re proud to see the Kingspan logo alongside that of the Planete Passionate logo, a programme that is very much in keeping with the values of sailing, a sport which involves very few CO2 emissions” – Geoffrey Janssens de Varebeke, Executive Director of Bacacier By Kingspan.
“To step aboard the boat like a true pro within the context of a race was a fabulous experience. We are very proud to follow the progress of Tom and the boat, because Tom supports the values we too hold dear within the Kingspan Group” – Emilie Luyckx, Project Manager for the building product manufacturers Maison de l’étancheur by Kingspan.

June – Le Havre Allmercup – A fine podium for this last race before the summer!

Already 6 months of competition: thrilling and intense!

The Figaro Beneteau circuit is incredibly comprehensive and highly dynamic. It comprises around a dozen events a year. Among these, 5 races form part of the Championnat de France Elite de Course au Large, the most prestigious of which is the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.

The Championship ranking awards the skipper who consistently performs the best. It is a points-based championship. The better the result, the fewer points the skipper scores. The first to finish scores 1 point, the second scores 2 points, etc. The number of points is then multiplied by the event coefficient. The results of each race are then added up to obtain the final Championship ranking.

I’m currently lying in 4th place in the Elite Course au Large France championship with six races already completed since the start of 2024:

– Solo Guy Cotten – 13th

– Trophée Laura Vergne – 4th

– Solo Maitre Coq – 6th

– Trophée BPGO – 7th

– Le Havre AllmerCup – 3rd

I’ve posted a very consistent performance since the start of the year in all the races I’ve taken part in and I intend to continue in that vein, especially in light of the fact that consistency is the key to success in the Solitaire!

The main event of the year: the Solitaire of Figaro Paprec

There are now just 1 month to go until the start of the Solitaire.

After taking the boat’s partners out for a few sailing trips, I’m going to put the boat in for a 3-week refit during which everything will be dismantled, checked and then optimised to ensure we are at peak performance on 25 August, the start of the first round of the famous Solitaire du Figaro Paprec.

I’ve really been able to boost my confidence in the run-up to this race. By aim is to continue raising my game and progressing.