In the end, 19 skippers will set off on the Azimut 48H this Thursday at 3pm. Discover their impressions just before embarking on a course that promises to be full of twists and turns.

Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE): “It's going to be a busy race, with breezes and lighter winds. We're also going to start with a long downwind run. It's going to be one of the first times we've seen the whole fleet in breezy conditions and in a bit of sea, at the VMG downwind speed we'll be encountering in the Vendée Globe. And there will also be a few strategic moves to make. It's going to be physical, and I don't think we'll be getting much sleep, with lots of sail changes. It's also a last little solo trial run to test the machine, and get ourselves well on board before the Vendée Globe.”

Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance): “I'm delighted to be at the 48 hours, which is the highlight of the Azimut Challenge. We've got great conditions to start in, with sunshine and a breeze. Very soon we'll be sailing downwind in 18-20 knots of wind. It's going to go very fast and the numbers are going to go up very quickly on the chart. I can't wait to see where we stand in relation to the new boats in their Vendée Globe configuration. Some of them have just installed a new pair of foils. It's bound to be interesting to map out all that. My main objective is to continue getting to grips with the boat as much as possible, as well as testing and validating against the others the latest modifications we've made on our side this summer. We're going to race hard, and we'll certainly arrive very tired on Saturday morning, but that's part of the game!”

Samantha Davies (Initiatives Cœur): “We had a great day yesterday, and I'm delighted to have won in our group, ahead of Yoann Richomme and Thomas Ruyant! We made some sick runs, let the horses loose and screamed! And it's shaping up to be a great 48 hours too, as we're expecting good weather, with wind but not too much. We're going to go full steam ahead. We just have a little doubt about the end of the course: are we all going to end up in a parking lot at Les Glénan, or on the contrary will we be lucky enough to have wind all the way to the finish? We'll see...”

Louis Duc (Fives Group - Lantana Environnement): “I'm confident and fortunately, feeling in great shape. I'm delighted to start these 48 Hours Azimut in such beautiful conditions. We're going to start downwind under spinnaker, and I'm having a blast! The aim of this race is first and before all, to have fun on the boat and get back on track. For me, it's really a training session before the Vendée. I'm predicting a finish on Saturday afternoon according to the first routings, but as usual in racing: you always know when you're leaving, but never when you're coming back!”

Isabelle Joschke (MACSF): “I can't wait to go! We got the last race itinerary last night, where we had more manoeuvres than in the last one. So it's going to be a really great 48 hours, because we're going to have a good downwind leg and then a lot of changes to look forward to. It's going to be active, it's going to be fun, it's going to be a battle all the time.”

Violette Dorange (DeVenir): “This race is great! it really gives you the impression of being in training like at the IMOCA class, it's perfect for reviewing all the point of sail, all the sail changes. I've been training over the summer, so it's going to be an excellent test before this first Vendée.”