It’s a great collaboration. Virtuous, and they hope, a sporting winner. It will be whatever happens, as the cause defended is so beautiful. Barely returned from Martinique and the Transat Jacques Vabre where he triumphed in the Ocean Fifty category (15 meter trimarans) Quentin Vlamynck presented this Wednesday in Paris his new challenge: the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec and the eponymous circuit which will begin in next March to culminate at the end of August with the oldest French offshore racing event. And on this Solitaire, as on the pre-season events, including the Tour Voile, the 31-year-old sailor from Biscarrosse will wear the colors of the Association les Étoiles Filantes.
Created in 2019 by Sandie Tourondel, former journalist for the Sport24.com website (owned by Le Figaro) and current director of communications for the Bollé brand, this association aims to support families including children (around fifty cases per year in France) are affected by pediatric cancer, an infiltrating glioma of the brain stem. An abstruse term to describe a disease that is unfortunately incurable and which kills children between 5 and 15 years old in a few months. This was the case for Little Arthur by Sandie Tourondel three and a half years ago. And since then his mother, magnificently courageous, has fought to “make the dreams of sick children come true and help their families”. The third objective, helping research, has not been forgotten. And Quentin Vlamynck’s Figaro Bénéteau 3, in conjunction with Sandie Tourondel because it is equipped by the Bollé brand, will be the best vector for making this association known, which, for example, succeeded in showing Fort Boyard to a little patient with a passion for the show and to finance a rest space for parents in a Lyon hospital which did not offer one.
Visits to the boat and navigation on board, discovery of the villages located at the start and finish of the stages of the Solitaire are notably planned. “This gives meaning to my project which otherwise is too selfish,” explains Quentin Vlamynck, who will divide his time between his position as technical and sporting director of the Neo Sailing Technologies shipyard created by Lalou Roucayrol in Verdon-sur-Mer and that of figarist , determined to shine in his first year on a circuit renowned for its sporting level and its demands.
“I heard that I was scary, I want to perform in the rookie category,” the Landais confides. It will be slower than in a multihull but it will be more strategic. It will be good to have a boat that is not likely to capsize and to learn how to finely trim sails. And I want to race in contact.”
This boat, whose baptism date is already set for February 15, World Childhood Cancer Day, is still looking for its title partner. Knowing that Quentin Vlamynck and Sandie Tourondel have decided whatever happens to see this great adventure through to the end. “Our goal is for children to have stars in their eyes,” they confirm together. Notice to companies keen on sponsorship or patronage…
Contact Sandie Tourondel : sandie@lesetoilesfilantes.org