Thomas Coville - Helmsman / trimmer /
in charge of the keel and hydraulics
Born
on 10th May 1968 - Lives in Locmariaquer (France, Morbihan)
Number of participations in the Volvo Ocean Race: 1
Track record :
• 2010 : Route du Rhum - La Banque Postale (3rd) - Sodebo
• 2010
: Co-holder of the Jules Verne Trophy - Groupama 3
• 2007 : Solo North Atlantic record holder (5 days 19 hours
29 minutes and 20 seconds) - Sodebo
• 2004 : The Transat Plymouth-Boston (2nd)
• 2001-2002 : Volvo Ocean
Race - DJuice (6th)
• 1999 : Transat Jacques Vabre (1st)
Naval battle
"During
my participation on DJuice in 2002, I remember the pressure of the group and the intensity of the racing that I'd never experienced
before. Throughout the entire event, we were racing neck and neck with the others. Ultimately, in the Volvo Ocean Race, it's
the length of the event that is the most frightening aspect. The most difficult thing will be maintaining the level of excellence
required by Franck for nine months. That's what I fear the most: having to manage energy levels and the physical and mental
states throughout the duration and the distance of the event."
Crew cohesion
"In
the Volvo Ocean Race, in order to get a couple of miles ahead, you have to fight hard and really give it your all. As watch
leader, you ask a lot from the sailors. Between the fatigue, the technical issues, the affinities... things can easily jam
up. Ultimately it's the human element, the cohesion between people and the respect between people on shore as well as on the
water, which will ensure that in the end all these stumbling blocks are managed and accepted. That's what happened on Groupama
3. All the personalities and individualities were completely smoothed out in the service of a single project, a single boat
and a single victory. It's exactly this atmosphere that I'm keen to rediscover whilst sailing with Franck. It's rare in a
sailor's life to achieve such a perfect set-up. And as Franck has managed to construct it, I am keen to experience it again."
You
never know
"I've dreamt about it since I was 16 years of age. For me, the Whitbread was a combination of confronting
the Anglo-Saxons and the rest of the world and setting off on an adventure. Each stage represented a discovery and a voyage
in its own right. Today, as professional sportsmen, our job is to limit the adventure. Nevertheless, however hard you work
to limit the adventure, there will always be an element of uncertainty and risk. That's what makes the challenge exciting."
A
family adventure
"The Volvo Ocean Race will be my fourth round the world in four years. When I decided to embark
on this challenge with Franck and Groupama, I discussed it with my family and the decision was taken with everyone in agreement.
They, like me, consider this project to be a chance, an opportunity to build up our family."