Caudrelier: I must not take any risks and know how to take care of the beast

The skippers take time out to answer our questions, even if they are flat out, with their hands full and their giant UlLTIM at full chat. Every Tuesday, a skipper tries their best to answer our questions, discuss the current challenges and reflect the sheer, non stop intensity of the race. Today we enjoyed a discussion with the undisputed leader, Charles Caudrelier. The lead of the skipper of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild continues to grow and grow. He has set a new solo sailing record from Ushant to Cape Leeuwin, and a new Indian Ocean solo record.  However, these things are not of interest to him right now. He knows that his lead can disappear with even the slightest damage, he knows that the weather he has had since the start has largely been favorable or very favourable but that run of luck can turn bad with one blocking high pressure system. Caudrelier reveals that he is most appreciative of the beauty of good routes, great trajectories and high average speeds rather than being a fierce competitor. He sincerely delivers all he can out on the ocean  working relentlessly to achieve something truly great.

We get the impression that you are doing great miles and all the lights are green!
Yes, there are a lot of green lights but there is always a warning above my head. I know that what happened to Tom (Laperche) could happen to me at any moment, that I could break a part and suffer damage. The boat is tired from a trip half way around the world. On this boat we have never gone this far. But I do feel in good shape, I have good sequences, I get an energy from being first, there is a great thing in not being stressed by a ranking. Yes, this is an ideal situation but this is a mechanical sport, there will be always aspects that cannot be controlled.

"I'm on the brakes all the time"

Is being able to take care of yourself a luxury?

Well, put it this way, I'm not looking for a record, I'm on the brakes all the time! When I exceed 40 knots, I get yelled at by my routers! I could go 4 knots faster but it's a passage around the world, it's long and hard. I have to pay attention to the phenomenon that is cavitation under the water which can cause micro-cracks on the appendages. And the faster you go the more monstrous the effort.. I must not take any risks and know how to take care of the beast.

You have broken several records, do these numbers interest you?

No, I don't even look at the times. I don't want to get into that game. It is dangerous. And after all, I won't have a crossing of the Pacific, not as good as the one that François made on his record and his return up the Atlantic was really, really great! But we shouldn't get locked into the wrong objective: it would be stupid to push the boat and break it. I'm not racing against the clock, even if that gets people excited and talking and even if it might make me a little happy in the end....

"I also have had one problem a day"

Over the next few days what are the trends?


Now I still have 24 hours of calmer weather with flat seas before returning to rougher seas for 12 to 24 hours. Maybe I'll go north to avoid it. Then, the end of the Pacific it is a little complicated with a system to get around and I don't know where to go yet. Arriving at Cape Horn should not be bad even if it can get violent quickly. Until I'm north of the Falkland Islands, it's hard to be sure of things.....

Listening to you, you seem in pretty good shape.
Yes I am ! Even when Tom pushed me at the start of the race, I managed to find the right balance between sleep and performance. Now I'm more in management, it's relaxing and sometimes a little boring. But fortune smiles on me, I still have a lucky star for the moment! We knew we had to fight to get down to the Indian first because we could "start from the front". The team also did a very good job because I never had to slow down to make any kind of repairs. I did a little DIY here and there, and I too have had one problem a day. These are small annoyances usually but at 35 knots, they are not easy to resolve!

"What I like is to look at the charts and my route..."

And when you're bored, what do you do?


For three or four days that I've been sleeping pretty well, cleaning my boat. I tried watching films, I started reading a little on my tablet but I'm having a little trouble.  When I relax I start to worry more.  My bunk is slightly tilted and that distorts my sensations, I always have the impression of heeling, I have difficulty feeling my boat. And then I had my little problems, I have a sensor on the daggerboard that doesn't work and I have to adjust it by feel. These things are a bit annoying but that doesn't stop me from going fast forward!

What moments do you really enjoy?

I'm not a person given to contemplation. Sometimes there are some beautiful lights in the sky but overall it's gray, there's fog, wet, damp, mist and I don't really go outside. What I like more is looking at the charts and data to optimize my trajectory, to choose the right sails. I also really enjoy anticipating, being one step ahead. What excites me is more the process than the outcome, the  result. I really enjoy steering my boat. I know where I have come from on this odyssey, the desire I had to do this exercise, to have been too afraid of it too, and now to do it by myself too. And I enjoy  that the boat is well managed and to be here, more than halfway through, is very satisfying in itself."