Philippe Poupon will be on the starting line of the Route du Rhum aboard the legendary boat that once belonged to sailor Florence Arthaud: Pierre 1er, rebaptized Flo, the title of the biopic being made by his wife, Géraldine Danon. Before leaving for Saint Malo, he granted us an interview.
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15 meters wide, 18 meters long, a 30-meter mast, 32 years- old and entirely renovated in the Finistère department of France. The flamboyant boat with which Florence Arthaud won la Route du Rhum 1990 is back on the water in 2022 for the same race. Skipper Philippe Poupon, winner of the Route du Rhum in 1986, will be on the starting line on No- vember 6 in Saint Malo, in the company of his wife, Géral- dine Danon, who is in the middle of making the film, Flo, retracing the life of the sailor. Philippe Poupon will be sailing in the wake of the “the fiancée of the Atlantic,” who died in 2015 in a helicopter crash in Argentina. “The boat comes to life in the film,” explains Philippe Poupon. “We wanted it to be real, even going to get the boat in the Philippines.” A pirate attack, a tumultuous return trip, a voyage not lacking in twists and turns; a challenge in keeping with the passion- ate and rich life of Florence Arthaud. “Happily, we were able to bring the boat to France, then work on the restora- tion last August in order to get back on the water in early September for 10 days of shooting in very good conditions.” Now the film continues without the boat, which is in pre- paratory stages for the big race.
Philippe Poupon is also ready, after two months of a family expedition in Antarctica with his boat, Fleur Australe. “Physically, I have the advantage of navigating several months every year and have worked at staying in shape for over 15 years. I never lose the sense of being a seaman, whether in a race or on an expedition like we did this win- ter,” he explains. Be organized, be prepared: the final stages are the most important, and “the many years of experience are, for me, the secret to success,” he notes. But there is more to it for him that just being competitive: “It’s not just about winning. I’ll leave that to those who have an IMO- CA (editor’s note: monohull 60’ sailboats). In that class, there will be major battles among the leaders. I am in the Rhum Multi category, old monohulls, multihulls, catama- rans, trimarans … We will be a little less competitive. But if all goes well, to finish first in one’s category is not too shabby. I have a competitive boat, it’s up to me to do the rest. Most importantly, to sail well and avoid breakage; that’s my goal.”
Also important for Philippe Poupon is the context in which he is racing this legendary sailboat, that of the film devoted to Florence Arthaud. “Florence was a friend, like a member of the family. She is very much in our hearts, and since we went to recover her boat, we have been living this wonderful scenario that Géraldine has created. It makes me very hap- py to be racing aboard Flo, and a lot of people are happy for me. Florence was formidable, a major sailor who surprised and fascinated the general public, and we are continuing the saga.” A saga that is being told without an official sponsor, and which depends on the support of those who have a love for sailing and for the “fiancée of the Atlantic.”
