Press release ·
Anthony Marchand and Thierry Chabagny, 5th in Ultim: A transat revealing great potential
They arrived in Fort de France, just as the sun was rising, with wide smiles revealing the satisfaction of a job well done.
Anthony Marchand and Thierry Chabagny crossed the finish line after Sodebo, less than five hours behind, in 5th place—a minimal difference on the scale of this race of over 16 days covering 9,911 miles (distance sailed). Relentlessly, they gave their more experienced Ultim competitors on newer machines a run for their money.
“This 16-day sail with Anthony will remain one of my great sailing memories,”confides Thierry Chabagny.
“I told Thierry I was happy to have done this race with him and gave him a kiss on the forehead,”added Anthony Marchand upon arrival. This speaks volumes about the bond and complementarity between the two men.
For Anthony, for whom this was a first as skipper in Ultim, this Transat is a wonderful showcase of his potential ahead of the round-the-world race, the Arkea Ultim Challenge – Brest, which sets sail on January 7, 2024.
They set off to perform and sail over a long period, with the goal for Anthony to push the boat and make it his own—a milestone easier to reach double-handed than solo. Thierry’s experience in crewed multihulls proved invaluable to him. Anthony arrives in Fort de France seasoned, confident in his multihull, and ready to start the upcoming solo Round-the-World race. And they have no regrets. They remained fully committed throughout, driven by a deep desire to challenge their competitors, especially their predecessor Sodebo. After the second pass through the Doldrums, sailing up the Atlantic between Ascension Island and Martinique, the door closed behind SVR – Lazartigue. Yves Le Blevec, Team Actual Director:“In Ultim, distance gaps open and close quickly because the boats are so fast. Anthony and Thierry were always fully committed in their sailing, without hesitation. They did what it took to go faster. Upwind, the others are faster, and right from the start, a gap opened up. But whenever they had the chance, they responded and seized every opportunity to close the gap. On the scale of a 16-day race, the gaps are small.”
This Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie – Le Havre, covering a distance representing nearly a third of a round-the-world trip, proved essential in terms of preparation, commitment, and reliability ahead of the solo round-the-world race—an extraordinary challenge that Anthony Marchand is already eager to race in.
First words from Anthony Marchand
Did your duo work as you had hoped?
“Thierry is the perfect person for this kind of challenge. I'm super happy to have done it with him; it was so smooth. We are complementary and in sync in how we sail.”
The opportunities on this Transat?
“Sailing back up along Brazil, we maintained an offset from Sodebo to seize any option. Sometimes they hit wind holes, but it wasn't enough to catch up. We fought hard to challenge them, despite hydraulic issues. We never stopped believing; you must never feel defeated. Right up to the last minute we believed, because so much can happen! We have nothing to regret. We gave it our all and pushed the machine 100%. Naturally, we would have loved to finish 4th, 3rd, or even win! We finished 5th in a great way, having put up a fight. There are no moments we regret, whether tactically, strategically, or even in terms of boat speed. We were truly flat out the whole time. It's true they go fast! But we see that as soon as there are minor issues, things can slow down. On the scale of a round-the-world race, rankings can change quickly, and we'll be solo whereas we were two on this transat—which made repairs easier.”
What were the most memorable moments?
“The start was magical, reaching with boats like these. When you're at the helm or winching, images flood your mind. Watching each other to get off to a good start, launching like mad, it was magical. Then there are the long glides under gennaker, in the trade winds in a t-shirt with the heat, sun, blue sky—endless glides. That's something you look forward to when heading out on a transat, and you're never disappointed.”
Is this a major first for you as a skipper?
“It was a major first on a sporting level, but especially in terms of responsibility toward Actual and the team of 18 people who get involved and fine-tune the boat to perfection. I'm happy to have brought the boat back here in great shape.”
Technically, did you have satisfactions or issues?
“We had very little time to test the new foils (barely a month, editor's note), but we've just covered 9,210 miles, so they're well tested! They're sturdy being single-piece, and we really pushed them. We learned how to trim them properly and can feel the potential. It allowed us to go faster on certain points of sail, giving the machine a boost! We had a few hydraulic issues and struck a hard object underwater that damaged the daggerboard.”
How did you view the victory of Banque Populaire XI?
“Armel and Sébastien are wonderful winners! They sailed brilliantly! That battle with SVR was beautiful, great to follow and analyze. They fought hard, and it's also great for the class because it's racing just like in Figaro, with battles on the water and lead changes.”
First words from Thierry Chabagny
What does this Transat in Ultim represent?
“It was a great race, as long as a third of a round-the-world trip. Spending so many days on these machines is no small feat because we were constantly at 100%. We really pushed them hard. 16 days straight is unprecedented except on a round-the-world race, indeed. For me, double-handed, it was my first time—a magical experience thanks to Anthony and Team Actual. Being on the razor's edge for so long is intensely absorbing. You live every second to the fullest, and arriving is a true release. Arriving in Fort de France is pure happiness!
It's the first time I've spent so much time racing double-handed at this level. I've done a lot of crewed sailing, but everyone stays at their post. Double-handed, you can navigate, analyze satellite images, talk with the weather router. These are fascinating aspects. But I was able to bring insights to Anthony from my crewed experience where everything is pushed to the limit: managing maneuvers, trimming.”
Your best moments?
“The start, which got off to a flying start in 35 knots of wind, without really knowing where you're going to cross the Raz Blanchard. You set off at full speed, head down. Two hours before, you were in your hotel room and suddenly you find yourself right there..! On these machines, you always have to anticipate, so you prepare your sails, anticipate maneuvers, and go for it! Plus Anthony was calm, which helps.”
The next round-the-world race by Anthony Marchand
“I've been envisioning this round-the-world race since the return delivery of the Route du Rhum (in November 2022) where I pictured what it was like to sail this boat. Coming out of this Transat as skipper, I project myself even more because this boat and Ultims in general are reliable; they're built to log miles, to sail, to go fast. Of course there's some damage, but that doesn't stop us from moving forward. We don't lose masts, we don't tear sails. They're made for this, and that reassures me. I can't wait to go! And besides, I'm happy at sea—I love it when it goes fast!”
Results and statistics
- 16th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre
- 7,500 miles distance
- 5th position
- 16 days race time
- 18 knots speed
On Wednesday, November 15 at 4:27 a.m. local time (9:27 a.m. Paris time),Anthony Marchand and Thierry Chabagnycrossed the finish line in fifth place in the Bay of Fort-de-France for the 16th edition of theTransat Jacques Vabre Normandie – Le Havre.
The race time forActual Ultim 3was 16 days, 20 hours, 22 minutes, and 43 seconds. It covered the 7,500 miles of the course between Le Havre and Fort-de-France at a speed of 18.55 knots on the great circle route (direct route). In reality, it sailed 9,211 miles at an average speed of 22.78 knots (over the water).
About Actual group
Today, the 5th largest player in the labor and employment market in France, Actual group is a French group with a resolutely humanistic vision, advocating daily to facilitate the right to work for everyone. Organized around 4 core businesses—temporary work, recruitment, coaching, and training—the group is the No. 1 player in integration temporary work in France. Led by Samuel Tual, a committed entrepreneur, Actual group has developed genuine expertise in guiding people into employment across France, as well as in Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland, through employment solutions and skills development. The group also offers a comprehensive range of HR solutions to support companies and find or create the skills they need. Thanks to its 4,000 employees and more than 600 agencies across the region, Actual group currently supports 33,000 companies and 156,000 job candidates, generating €1.5 billion in turnover in 2024. Its ambition is to build the work of men and women together, everywhere in France.