Torresen Sailing Site:  How confident are you that your boat will not capsize ?

  As confident as is possible - our designers Finot/Conq have done an enormous amount of work since last years Vendee problems. Team Group 4 has many new innovations to improve safety from the previous generation of Open 60's. These include a cambered deck, swinging keel (which has a safety spin off of negating the yachts inverted stability), and an angle of vanishing stability of more than 120 degrees. In addition we have a watertight mast which may stop the yacht from making a full roll in the first place. However the possibility of extreme conditions capsizing any yacht remains and every yacht whatever design may meet the wave which does the impossible.

Torresen Sailing Site:  What originally made you decide that you wanted to sail around the world ?

It’s the biggest challenge for any competitive yachtsman - “a sailors Everest”

Torresen Sailing Site:  What qualities do you possess that make you think you can win Around Alone ?

That’s not really for me to say !!! but having the opportunity to compete in this type of premier event with such a good backup team of designers, builders, sponsors and support crew makes me very determined to work hard and do the best I can do.

Torresen Sailing Site:  Comment on the following description of the Around Alone course: While Legs 1 & 4 are important they are essentialy a delivery voyage to and from the site of the real racing: the Southern Ocean ?

I hope whoever said this is one of my competitors!!! in any race all the legs count and  Around Alone is no different arriving in Cape Town ahead has to be every competitors goal. Tactically the Atlantic poses real dilemma’s - it should be fun.

Torresen Sailing Site:  Why do you think that French sailors have historically dominated around the world racing ? What can sailors from other countries do to better their position ?

This type of racing is more highly developed in France. The French have had more and better sponsorship for this area of the sport and have therefore had more development. The rest of us must learn from the things they are good at and capitalise on what they are poor at.

Torresen Sailing Site:  Have you any interest in the Race ?   Would you consider a campaign ?

   The Race will be an awesome event, lets hope it comes off! If it does I would love to have a go however I hope to be taking Team Group 4 around for her second time in the Vendee Globe Challenge which remains the ultimate solo sailors challenge.

Torresen Sailing Site:  What is the difference between providing leadership for an entire crew and providing leadership/discipline when you are single handing ?

Naturally on the water I will need to be very self disciplined. But managing the support team and making scrupulous preparations before each stage remain key to yacht racing success in any event. Once on the water I will have only myself to blame should I fail to deliver.

Torresen Sailing Site:  Will you be satisfied with just completing another circut of the globe, or is winning the only way to satisfy yourself ?

Sailing Around the World alone would not be enough, I enjoy the competition and, winning would be a real bonus. As long as I walk away from the event knowing that I have done everything I can to win I will be satisfied. Whatever I will learn a great deal from this race and this will help me further in future events.