Clarisse and Alan embark on 48 hours of racing with a lot of determination!

After a promising Rolex Fastnet Race (6th), the French solo sailor of L'Occitane en Provence and her co-skipper, Alan Roberts, are competing in a 2nd race: the Défi Azimut, the start of which was given late this Thursday morning off Lorient. Faced with a sizeable fleet of 33 IMOCA Open 60s and some particularly invigorating conditions, they will have to cover 638 miles off the coast of Brittany.  

It's back to school time. After a studious summer, a much-needed break and plenty of motivation, Clarisse Crémer has rediscovered her taste for competition, the stress of the start and the desire to do well. L'Occitane en Provence is one of the 34 IMOCA boats which set off for the Azimut 48 Hours on Thursday. It's a particularly large fleet, which includes some new boats as well as those from The Ocean Race.  

"Still a lot to learn!”  

For Clarisse, partnered by her co-skipper Alan Roberts, the enthusiasm is palpable. “I'm still discovering this boat and adapting to the English way of working," she confided at the team presentation on Wednesday. “I still have a lot to learn, but I'm lucky to be well surrounded.” She demonstrated this on Tuesday at the christening of the boat, an emotional moment attended by the project's godmother, surfer Justine Dupont, the director of L'Occitane en Provence, Adrien Geiger, and the project's mentor, Alex Thomson.  

There's plenty to keep them smiling and motivated as they head back out to sea... The weather conditions are shaping up to be particularly invigorating, with wind, heavy seas, upwind sailing and reaching... "It's going to be selective and a bit rough, but it's still going to be easy to handle," stresses the race directors. It's a reminder of what the sailors endured during the Rolex Fastnet Race last July, and just as well: Clarisse and Alan put up a hell of a fight, finishing fifth after an incredible battle.