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Emmanuel Le Roch, skipper of the Edenred Class40, had chosen Basile Bourgnon as co-skipper for the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 from Le Havre to Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. The Edenred group is now continuing the "Dream Team" adventure by offering Basile, born in 2002, the chance to train for his first single-handed transatlantic race: the Mini Transat in September 2021, at the helm of a brand new Classe Mini 6.50.
As the son of a skipper, I grew up on boats. I spent seven years sailing around the world on a catamaran with my family, which is how I discovered the open sea. Today, competitive sailing is my passion.
Basile was only be 17 at the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre on October 27, 2019. But thanks to a special dispensation, he was officially named co-skipper of the Edenred Class40, having taken part in the second stage of the Défi Atlantique with Emmanuel Le Roch – a 1,300-mile race between Horta in the Azores and La Rochelle. He thus becomes the youngest participant in the 13th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre.
"I knew Laurent well and I'm still very close to his family. After talking to my partner Edenred, I initially put the question to Caroline, Basile's mother, who was very moved. As for Basile, he said yes right away!”, explains the Edenred skipper.
Taking part in the Transat Jacques Vabre on the Class40 Edenred is the beginning of a great adventure for me. Edenred and Emmanuel have offered me an incredible experience.
With an uncanny maturity, Basile Bourgnon is passionate about speed. Having grown up on the family catamaran in New Zealand, he is naturally drawn to the multihull.
In 2018, he put together and sailed a Diam 24 in the Tour de France à la Voile. And his desire for the open sea has gone stronger and stronger. When Emmanuel asked him to take part in the Transat Jacques Vabre, he thought it was a joke: "I'm 16, I'm just leaving school, and I get a call from Manu. I don't believe it! I don't believe it, because it's a dream. A plan that was taking shape in my head, but which I didn't think was within reach just yet.”
Competitiveness is in his blood and he never gives up – I think it runs in the family.
“Basil is cheerful, enthusiastic, and always positive. In sporting terms, he really impressed me during the Défi Atlantique! He's got great skills at the helm and he's a fine, highly independent racer. I never needed to go behind him to trim the sails. I am proud of my partner Edenred, who made a really brave decision in supporting Basile at my side, and demonstrating once again how trust is a key value,” said Emmanuel Le Roch.
The pair already works very well together. In June 2019, they won the Class40 category of the ArMen Race! This is just the start...»
The Edenred Dream Team
Basile Bourgnon
