Interview: Erwan Le Draoulec

With just 150 days to go before the grand departure, excitement is building on the docks. For Erwan Le Draoulec, skipper of the Ocean Fifty Lazar trimaran, this 2026 edition will be unlike any other race: it will be his very first Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe. A baptism of fire sailing solo on these capricious and demanding multihulls that forged his vocation as a sailor when, as a child, he watched them with stars in his eyes.

Freshly qualified and armed with unwavering composure, the young skipper approaches this monumental offshore race with a mixture of excitement, realism, and profound gratitude. Between the technical rigor of the preparation, the quest for the perfect course, and the pride of proudly representing the Lazare charity, Erwan Le Draoulec speaks candidly.

#1 How are you feeling 150 days before your first Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe?

Erwan Le Draoulec: I feel good, very good indeed. Especially since I just finished my solo qualification. Now I know what it means to sail alone on this boat. It removes some of the mystery and gives me confidence. It's a race I've dreamed of for a long time.

With 150 days to go, there's a lot of impatience and excitement, but I keep in mind that it's not that far away. There's still a huge amount of work to do. Despite this mix of emotions, I'm calm, very happy to be participating in this race, and delighted to see this program come to fruition. We're working well with the team: technically and in terms of performance, the boat is progressing well. I'm giving it my all.

#2 What does this race represent for you?

Erwan Le Draoulec: It's a very special race. As a child, I was captivated by stories of offshore racing, whether it was the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, the Vendée Globe, or the Jules Verne Trophy. When I used to walk along the docks back then, there were a lot of trimarans, especially the ORMA generation. It was these multihulls that made me dream, the very same ones I used to build out of wood with my grandfather in his workshop. This idea of crossing the Atlantic on such machines is what sparked my passion.

It's an incredible opportunity to be able to make this childhood dream a reality. I can still picture myself looking at those boats with wide-eyed wonder, like admiring a superhero. Today, knowing that I'll be aboard a magnificent boat like the Lazare trimaran , supported by such a project and such a team, is extraordinary. For me, crossing the Atlantic Ocean solo in a multihull remains the greatest and most demanding challenge in offshore racing. I am deeply happy to have the chance to do it.

#3 What are your objectives for this edition?

Erwan Le Draoulec: I prefer to remain realistic and not set myself false goals. The last Transat Jacques-Vabre reminded us that before thinking about the result, we must first succeed in bringing these boats safely to port. They are volatile, fragile, and lightweight machines.

If I had to prioritize my goals, the very first is to cross the finish line on the other side. The second is to achieve this with a boat in good condition. This requires sailing like a true seaman, paying close attention to the equipment, and managing the systems and sails effectively to preserve the boat's full potential right to the end. Finally, I want to sail a strong race. If we can bring all these elements together, a podium finish, or even better, becomes entirely possible. That's the order in which we need to approach things.

Beyond the sporting aspect, my goal is also to highlight the Lazare association, which lends its name to the boat, and to spread its message. It's a meaningful project, and I'm proud to support it.

Finally, I would add a more personal goal. It's often said that you make your own luck, and I am extremely grateful to Tanguy Le Turquais for trusting me to helm this trimaran. If I'm at the starting line, it's thanks to him. My wish is that he'll be proud of his choice and that I'll live up to his expectations.