NICO D’ESTAIS: «THE VENDÉE ARCTIQUE IS A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY!»

THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF EXCITEMENT FROM YOU ABOUT TAKING PART IN THIS RACE…

Yes, because it’s a huge discovery and a great adventure. We’ll be sailing to places where we almost never race. There are very few events that give us the chance to go that far north. It’s also going to be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about our boats, especially as many of us have only been sailing them for a short time.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THE VENDÉE ARCTIQUE TO LOOK LIKE?

What’s great about the announced course is precisely that there isn’t really a course. We simply have to cross the Arctic Circle and come back. I wouldn’t be surprised to see very different routes chosen by the skippers, and all the better for it — that’s what will make the magic of this race.

COULD THAT HELP YOU STAY MORE COMPETITIVE THAN IN A “TRADITIONAL” RACE?

We’ll see. It will mainly depend on the wind strength and the conditions we encounter. We could find ourselves in areas with a lot of wind and a big sea state, and I’m not sure that would necessarily suit my boat. Whatever happens, I’m not setting myself any limits. In the 1000 Race, I managed to finish ahead of one boat. If I can finish ahead of one or two boats this time, I’ll certainly try. At the end of the day, it’s still a race!

Read also: Nico d’Estais profile

« THE VENDÉE ARCTIQUE IS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD » 

MORE GENERALLY, WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM YOUR 2026 SEASON?

It’s an important year and, so far, things are going well. After a season of double-handed racing, this is my first season sailing this boat solo. I’m learning how she works, breaking down manoeuvres and developing automatic routines. The Vendée Arctique will allow me to discover even more about offshore sailing with this boat and I can’t wait.

YOU LAUNCHED THIS IMOCA PROJECT LAST YEAR AND THINGS HAVE MOVED VERY QUICKLY SINCE THEN. HOW ARE YOU EXPERIENCING IT?

I’m building it a bit like a staircase. If the Vendée Globe started tomorrow, there’s no way I’d be ready to take the start. But by taking one step at a time, I know I can get there. It’s true that there have been a lot of steps recently: buying the boat, my first double-handed race, my first solo race… And the Vendée Arctique is another step forward.

« IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE… »

FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS NEVER STEPPED ABOARD AN IMOCA, CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT IT FEELS LIKE ONCE YOU’RE OUT AT SEA? 

What’s incredible is the sensation of glide and speed. You feel as though you’re controlling an entire world, harnessing the forces of the wind and the waves. There’s this powerful feeling that you could just keep moving forward forever. What’s exhilarating is that ability to keep making progress without limits, while requiring no additional source of energy.

DOES STARTING AND FINISHING IN LES SABLES D’OLONNE, AND SAILING BACK UP THE CHANNEL, INEVITABLY BRING THE VENDÉE GLOBE TO MIND?

Of course. It’s the setting of the Vendée Globe, so naturally you think about it. But I also know that the road ahead before I reach the start of the round-the-world race is still a long one. Sailing back up the channel will mainly be an opportunity to measure how far I still have to go.

BY THE WAY, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO HAVE BECOME A FULL-FLEDGED IMOCA SKIPPER?

On Sunday, as I was catching my train from Les Sables d’Olonne station, I saw the boards presenting each of the skippers and it felt a little surreal to see myself there. It’s true that being part of the Vendée Globe sailors’ family has always been a dream of mine. Then, when you meet the other skippers around the race villages and behind the scenes, you realise that relationships remain very simple, with a fantastic spirit throughout the fleet. And I think that’s really wonderful.