Pugnacious and ultra talented, Erwan Le Roux is not only a talented skipper, he is also an avid golfer. On October 4, he sponsored and participated with Alain Gautier, another great amateur golf sailing champion, in the 4th Pro-Am Voile & Golf, created and organized by the Domaine de Cicé-Blossac. A golfing event that has become a must in Brittany. But for once, let's leave the soft green of the courses for the deep blue of the ocean. On November 02, Erwan Le Roux left Saint-Malo with the firm intention of shining on the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, in which he was participating for the second time. It must be said that since he acquired his boat in 2011, the Morbihan sailor has won almost everything. The Route du Rhum in the Mutli 50 category in November, the Transat Jacques Vabre alongside Yann Eliès in 2013, the Grand Prix Guyader 2014 or even La Québec / St Malo in 2012.

Photo: DR

At 40, the skipper from Auray is a fast-growing sailor who displays an insolent ease in managing his boat. Because the 50-foot (15 m 24) FenêtréA-Cardinal 3 trimaran is none other than the old Crêpes Whaou! 3 by Franck-Yves Escoffier, one of the best performing boats on the circuit. Designed by the architects Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prévost, built by the CDK shipyard, it was launched in August 2009 and bought in 2011 by FenêtréA-Cardinal. Now in the hands of Erwan Le Roux since January 2012, this trimaran is considered one of the most competitive in the Multi50 class and its coxswain, one of the top players on the circuit. Since its launch, this boat has never stopped monopolizing the podiums and accumulating victories, whatever its color.

By winning the legendary solo transatlantic race on November 13 in just 11 days 5 hours 13 minutes and 55 seconds, 12 hours less than the previous reference time held since 2006 by Franck-Yves Escoffier, Erwan Leroux now displays the maturity of age and experience.

Favorite status

From the tip of Brittany, Erwan Le Roux however had to stick together with two formidable competitors: Yves Le Blévec (Actual) and Lalou Roucayrol (Arkema Région Aquitaine). Strategic choices were quickly imposed upon leaving the Channel: Lalou Roucayrol decided to head west, Yves Le Blévec and Erwan Le Roux descend straight, between Ouessant and the prohibited area. Then begins a chase to reach the trade winds first. The rhythm is wild in muscular conditions.

Photo: DR

Erwan appreciates the strong breeze and keeps the rhythm of this crazy race, in the heels of Yves Le Blévec, until the latter leaves the match: he must stop at Cascais in Portugal to repair his aircrafts. Erwan then goes on the hunt, tickling Lalou Roucayrol, leader in the classification on the approach to the Azores. The FenêtréA-Cardinal skipper is positioned on the path of his rival, determined to control him. Because he knows his horse by heart, he pushes him to his limits and manages to regain his head on November 6 to never let go. But the task is tough, because Lalou Roucayrol has the fangs and his boat is ultra fast with bearing gaits. During 2000 miles, the two solo sailors engaged in a formidable match in unchanging grain trade winds. At 700 miles from Guadeloupe, FenêtréA-Cardinal widens the gap and manages to relegate Arkema Aquitaine Region to more than 100 miles.

“This status of favorite, from Saint-Malo, I assumed it completely. However, if I knew my opponents, I had no idea what pace they were going to print. I especially didn't want it to be me who gave it, so I rather let others do it, Yves in particular. He and I both found ourselves at the same tempo. I knew that my boat was the best to win the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe and that, I never doubted it ” explains Erwan.

Late call

Photo: DR

Unlike many of his competitors, Erwan Le Roux did not fall into the “nautical cauldron” when he was little. The Morbihannais did not use his oilskin bottoms in Optimist or on any other medium when he was a kid. No, it was only much later, the year of his baccalaureate and his 18th birthday, that Erwan discovered sailing. At the time, like his father, he intended a career as a boilermaker. The path seems all mapped out, except that here it is: his mechanics teacher at the Jean Guehenno high school in Vannes, introduced him to sailing aboard a Samurai, a small monohull of 7,20m with the aim of participating in the regatta " One school, one boat ”. The trainings follow one another from the Ile d'Arz to the Ecole des Glénan.

“I learned to go to sea and come back. At the time, that was enough for me ” He explains. When he was called up for military service, he still decided to dig deeper into the subject. He became a conscientious objector in the famous École des Glénan for a period of 24 months. In the process, he signed a qualification contract and then his State certificate, competed in his first big regattas and tasted the joys of solo sailing. From then on, the virus is caught. He appeared at Solo Le Télégramme, the first real turning point in his career.

“We had to set up a project, find a Figaro Bénéteau 1, train… I worked well. I even found myself in the lead at the end of the third day. At that moment, I said to myself that I had to continue »  remembers Erwan. A wise decision since year after year, the Breton sailor has built up a solid reputation which has made him frequent the greatest: Marc Guilemot, Loïck Peyron, Daniel Souben, Frank-Yves Escoffier. With his impressive track record and his 11 transatlantic races, Erwan Leroux is now built to face all the major ocean races. Unless he definitely succumbs to the charm of swing ...

David Raynal

Runner's website: http://fenetreacardinal.com

Runner's Facebook: WindowCardinal

Runner's Twitter: @FenetreaCardina

Photo: DR

Domaine de Cicé-Blossac: an exceptional setting for an 18-hole course

**** Hotel, Restaurant, Spa, Golf in Rennes

Only 15 minutes from the city center of Rennes and on the edge of Vilaine, the Exclusiv Golf du Domaine de Cicé-Blossac invites you on its magnificent course. The company NGF Golf, golf manager since the beginning of 2010, has not stopped developing the course and the facilities to make it one of the first Breton golf courses today.

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Cice-Blossac domain

Avenue of the Chair

35170 Bruz

Tel. : + 33 (0) 2 99 52 76 76

Fax: + 33 (0) 2 99 57 93 60

resa@domainedecice.com