Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px TOP

François Gouin with his Class40 Kawan3 is the 35th entry in the Global Solo Challenge

by Global Solo Challenge 15 Sep 2021 23:06 NZST
French skipper François Gouin © Global Solo Challenge

François Gouin from Pornic in France is the 35th entry in the Global Solo Challenge with his Pogo 40S Kawan3, a first generation Class40 (Finot-Conq) built in 2008 by Structures.

For François, sailing is an incredible school of life: rigor, anticipation, discipline and, he believes, it is the most complete of discipline spanning from physical, technical, to emotional level. He wanted to participate in a round-the-world circumnavigation by the three great capes but the opportunity had never materialised until the announcement of the GSC, which represents a dream for the lovers of the open sea with yet requiring a budget that makes the project feasible.

The moment to launch himself in this adventure has arrived for François. The organizers are delighted to welcome him as the 35th entry in the GSC, 11th among the French skippers, 3rd Class40 and 5th among the 40-foot racing boats.

Interview

Where does your passion for sailing come from?

Since childhood. I discovered sailing and dinghies with my parents and friends on vacation. When I was very young, my greatest pleasure as a city dweller was during the holidays to walk the pontoons to admire, examine and compare the sailboats. It made me dream. From adolescence we discovered with our friends the pleasure and pride of sailing alone from one point to another, day or night, sometimes with strong winds on the small family sailboat of 7m. Then very quickly I discovered how rich and fun it was to try to go faster than the sailboats around us and therefore to sail in a races. The story has never stopped since!

What lessons have you learnt from sailing?

Sailing is an incredible school of life: rigour, anticipation, discipline but also flexibility and adaptation to the external elements to which you have to submit. Despite all these apparent constraints, it is an immense space of freedom. We never finish to learn technically, or about our reactions hence the marine environment requires a lot of humility.

What brought you to like single-handed sailing?

I have always been fascinated by great solo ocean racers in France and abroad, and I waited 40 years to do my first solo transatlantic. Unsurprisingly, it was a revelation. Single-handed racing is the most complete of the activities on the physical, technical, emotional level. Everything is there and everything is concentrated, you have to manage the race, the route, the boat, yourself at all levels. Strong sensations.

What prompted you to sign up for this event?

There has always been more or less consciously a place for such a great adventure in my head. The opportunities are rare, complicated. But there the planets quickly aligned themselves with the announcement of the GSC, a course which is the dream of lovers of the open sea, which requires a budget that makes the project feasible for an amateur, a program compatible with preparation despite my professional activity. It's the time to go for it, there won't be many other opportunities for me!

How do you plan to prepare for this event?

My preparation will be centred on that of my boat. I want to sail with a boat with which I feel good, confident, that I know perfectly.

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

I see 2 (at least!): gather the budget for a preparation as close as possible to my expectations today, to be on the starting line - navigate well to cross the finish line!

Tell us about your boat or the boat you would like to have.

I chose a sailboat of a size in relation to the means that I hope to be able to mobilise to prepare it as I wish, of a size which makes manoeuvres sufficiently easy, and a sailboat which surfs on the water as soon as we go downwind: I sailed on this type of sailboat in the range 9 to 12 m for about fifteen years, which for me combine safety and the pleasure of planing. So I chose a first generation Pogo 40S, a Class40 of good construction, Kawan3.

Do you intend to link this personal challenge with a social message?

The project was built from the outset with the support of Unicancer, which is the federation of French Cancer Control Centers; this project brings to the general public and to the federation of cancer hospitals, the message of the benefits of physical activity adapted for the prevention of cancer.

Sailing experience: I mainly sailed in race and cruises on the Atlantic coast, in Brittany since the age of 18. I complete 7 crossings of the Atlantic, 6 in races including 4 in single-handed races (Transquadra), numerous participations in the Fastnet, and all the Atlantic races...

About the boat:

  • Name of the boat: Kawan3
  • Boat design: Pogo 40S (Finot-Conq)
  • Sail number: TBA
  • Year built: 2008
  • LOA: 40ft
  • Group: TBA
  • Displacement: 5000kgs
  • Upwind sail area: 115m2
  • Downwind sail area: 233m2

Related Articles

BOISW - New Committee announced for 2026
New Committee working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week . A newly appointed committee is already working hard behind the scenes to rework the 2026 Bay of Islands Sailing Week event while honouring the traditions that have made it so special to the sailing community. Posted on 26 Jun
Nick Olson on PredictWind's newest features
Nick Olson discusses PredictWind's newest features PredictWind has long been a leader in presenting high-quality marine forecasts. Nick Olson discusses the company's newest features. Posted on 12 Jun
PredictWind launches Anchor Alert App
The app delivers immediate, real-time alerts if their anchor drags, ensuring enhanced safety. Global leader in marine weather forecasting, PredictWind, has announced the launch of its new standalone Anchor Alert app. Posted on 12 Jun
Armstrong Foils Demo Days return for 2025
Test the latest gear, get expert advice, and ride with the pros. Armstrong Foils is proud to announce the return of Armstrong Demo Days for 2025. Test the latest gear, get expert advice, and ride with the pros. Posted on 4 Jun
Armstrong Foils: On tour - Home of Armstrong II
Join America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders on the tour of NZ's Far North Join three times America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders Olivia Jenkins, Naumi Eychenne, Bowien van der Linden, Cash Berzolla, and Reo Stevens, on the Home of Armstrong Tour II, as they explore NZ's Far North. Posted on 30 May
VX One Class forms Int. Class Assoc.
Significant new chapter begins for VX One sailors with formation of an Int Class Assoc. A significant new chapter has just begun for VX One sailors worldwide with the formation of the VX One International Class Association Posted on 20 May
“Foil4TheGulf”, set to take place on Saturday
“Foil4TheGulf”, set to take place next Saturday (24 May) at Auckland's Okahu Bay “Foil4TheGulf”, set to take place next Saturday (24 May) at Auckland's Okahu Bay, has been inspired by the Hauraki Gulf / Tikapa Moana Marine Protection Bill's stalled progress in Parliament after its second reading in December last year. Posted on 13 May
RS-Quest rally at Cheltenam Beach
Eight RS-Quests sailed to Cheltenham Beach, on Sunday for the first NZ Quest barbeque lunch. Eight RS-Quests sailed to Cheltenham Beach, alongside North Head at the entrance to the Inner Waitemata Harbour, on Sunday for a barbeque lunch. Posted on 5 May
Taipa Sailing Club hard hit by Cyclone
The Taipa Sailing Club is reeling after being hard hit by Cyclone Tam - launches Givealittle page When Cyclone Tam tore the roof off the Taipa Sailing Club just over a week ago, the immediate future of the small Northland yacht club suddenly looked uncertain.A Givealittle page has raised more than $6000 in the first five days. Posted on 28 Apr
Exotic caulerpa in Paradise Bay at Urupukapuka
A cruiser was surprised when he pulled up a substantial amount of exotic caulerpa A cruiser was surprised - and worried - when he pulled up a substantial amount of seaweed that looked like it could be exotic caulerpa in Paradise Bay at Urupukapuka. Posted on 16 Apr
Lloyd Stevenson - Catalyst Yacht Tender 1456x180px BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_GP BOTTOMCollinsonCo 728x90 BOTTOM