Fastnet Rolex Race: Clarisse Crémer, the simple joy of returning to the sea

For her first race aboard L'Occitane-en-Provence, the young sailor, partnered with Alan Roberts, impressed. Despite the testing conditions and considerable adversity throughout the 600 miles, the duo clung on to the leading pack before finishing 6th. This stand out performance means they can look forward to the rest of the season with enthusiasm and determination. 

It's the epitome of what the open ocean has to offer. Intensity, rough seas, close racing and trying to the tame the elements. Clarisse Crémer had another taste of this during the Rolex Fastnet Race. Three days of racing between Cowes (in the south of England) and Cherbourg via the Fastnet Rock, a lighthouse on the south-west tip of Ireland formed the course of this iconic ocean race. 

L'Occitane-en-Provence was one of the 437 boats to have attempted this race. For Clarisse Crémer, it was a time of firsts: first race since The Ocean Race Europe in 2021, first aboard her new IMOCA, first with her new co-skipper, Alan Roberts. At the finish, the duo finished in 6th place, and were among the front runners in the race. But Clarisse prefers to remember "the incredible pleasure of being back on the water with Alan Roberts.
I had an incredible time getting back to the open sea, the competition and feeling all the sensations," comments Clarisse. 

It was a challenge in more ways than one. Since the boat was launched in her new colours, she had only sailed three times. "We found ourselves in some unlikely situations during the race because we didn't know all the instructions for using the boat," she laughs. “And given the immediacy of the race, you have to go for the simplest solution and this IMOCA (ex-APIVIA) lends itself to that. It's a boat that's fairly 'easy' to sail and very consistent in all points of sail.”

The success of this first race is not just a technical matter. Onboard, the understanding with Clarisse and Alan is one of the key factors in this race. “We have a great duo and a very good understanding," confides the sailor. “We agree on the goals, we're both very competitive and the chemistry just came naturally.”

Behind her words, there is the look of relief, of a simple pleasure rediscovered. "This race gave me the impression of getting my head out on the water, of having left behind a big squall and of finally making headway in a stable wind. The apprehension of the days leading up to the 'big start' was quickly forgotten. I was so scared of not being up to the task that it freed me up to focus on the race". 

This heightened attention and the pressure that comes with it were felt throughout the Rolex Fastnet Race. After all, L'Occitane-en-Provence was anything but an extra. The Crémer-Roberts duo stayed in the top 5 for a long time, neck and neck with several other teams at the end of the race. "It was really great to be in the race right to the end, battling it out with the others". 

Clarisse is enjoying everything: the bad weather at the start, the rounding of the Fastnet, the 'race within a race' with her direct rivals until last night and even the 'slow motion mode' when she woke up on Tuesday morning. "I really feel like I'm on cloud nine. I realise even more how lucky I am to have a dedicated team, great partners and an amazing a boat to be able to experience these emotions. From now on, it's back to the refit phase, a family holiday to rest and recharge the batteries. Soon, it'll be time to get back out on the water, sail one race after another and prepare for the big event of the season, the Transat Jacques Vabre in October.