Figaro - Start of the Transat AG2R - La Mondiale (Concarneau-Saint-Barthélemy)

"The Trade Wind Transatlantic"

Groupe Bel's skipper won the event in 2006 with the Italian, Pietro d'Ali. Sébastien Audigane the great, will accompany Kito for the 2010 race; great in size, admittedly, but especially for his talent, his experience and his record of achievements.

 In brief :
- Double-handed transatlantic race between Concarneau and Gustavia in Saint-Barthélemy, open to boats in the Figaro Beneteau 2 class
- 10th anniversary of this race created in 1992
- Prologue on 11 April in Concarneau
- Start on 18 April 14:00
- New route this year: 3,890 miles leaving the island of La Palma in the Canaries starboard
- Participants: 23 pre-registered duos, 5 old winning sailors, among whom is Kito (in 2006).
- 3rd time taking part for Kito and Sébastien Audigane respectively.
- Race website: www.transat.ag2rlamondiale.fr

What are the great Seb's strengths? "Seb is a person who has many qualities. He is excellent at the helm as well as at tuning.  He will also be of great assistance in strategy and weather analysis. We are both cast in the same mould, even if his was bigger than mine (laughs)! We have also sailed a lot together, with Jean Le Cam, and then last year on board Groupe Bel (60') on the Istanbul Europa Race. In fact, to sail with him was an obvious choice."

SEB'S POINT OF VIEW
"In the against-the-clock races that I took part in on my record campaigns, you get the opportunity to sail on magical boats, but I am also a racer and, in the Figaro class, it is the men that make the difference. I wanted to get back to pure racing and I accepted Kito's invitation with great pleasure. This was all the more so, because at sea he sails on feeling, knows how to attack and is capable of pulling stunts.  I like that. We have both sailed on many different boats. This helps us anticipate life on board. I am confident about our speed and our maneuvers. We must give the Figaro at 110% for three weeks. This is a great physical and moral commitment, but I feel we are good together. I am highly motivated."

SEBASTIEN AUDIGANE
Born on 9 March 1968 in Brest, father of three children, lives in Port Louis (Morbihan).
Experienced in Laser, Soling, Dragon, 60’ trimarans, 60' monohulls (Jean Le Cam, Yann Eliès, Kito de Pavant)
- 7 participations in the Solitaire du Figaro
- Holder of tree major offshore records:
- Crew-manned Atlantic record (Banque Populaire V)
- Record for the distance sailed in 24 hours (Banque Populaire V)
- Cadix-San Salvador Record (Groupama 3)
- He was on Orange 2 for the 2005 Jules Verne Trophy, beaten in march by Groupama 3