Paul Meilhat: The key is to think outside the box

Right up until the finish, Paul Meilhat was still checking the sails, going over every last detail and fine-tuning a boat he knows inside out.

Meilhat has established himself as one of the leading figures in The Ocean Race, having won The Ocean Race Europe last year (Biotherm) and now The Ocean Race Atlantic with his United by the Ocean team.

But for him, those two victories are stepping stones towards a bigger goal: The Ocean Race around the world, which gets underway next January.

That was clearly still on his mind when he stepped ashore at the docks on Thursday. He arrived with a scratch on his nose, courtesy of a drone propeller — “I’m not very good at catching them” — but his broad smile said much more than the injury. He was clearly delighted with what this crew had achieved together.

Here, on the docks, Meilhat reflected on the race, his crew, the boat and what lies ahead — offering a revealing glimpse into the mindset of a sailor who is thoroughly enjoying the journey.

What does this victory mean to you?

Paul Meilhat: "For me, it’s not really about the result itself, but about how we achieved it. I’d rather remember all the good moments and think about how we can recreate them in the future.

"But the great thing is that everything worked really well on board."

You built a very tight-knit crew and stayed united right through to the finish…

"That’s really important to me. I like building a team where everyone plays their part in achieving something together.

"I got to know Sara [Stone], who has experience sailing big boats, during the delivery. She was discovering this slightly unusual world and adapted very quickly. She sailed really well and had all the right instincts.

"And, above all, she’s always in a great mood. That’s incredibly important on a boat.

"I already knew Mariana [Lobato] and Benjamin [Ferré] well, but I feel like we’ve taken another step forward together."

It also highlights what your boat, the former Biotherm, is capable of…

"Yes, although it’s not a latest-generation boat. And while we were fast, we also had some difficult moments.

"In big seas, it’s not particularly quick. We had a really tough night three days ago, for example, with a big swell and a nasty cross sea.

"But in flat water, with medium to strong winds, the boat is very fast. And fortunately, a lot of races are ultimately won in those conditions.

"There are some races we’ll probably never be able to win, but there are others we can win. That’s one of the great things about IMOCA racing."

So this is the boat’s second victory in The Ocean Race, after winning The Ocean Race Europe. Have you cracked to the code to success in The Ocean Race?

"Yes, but I’m not sure we’ve found the formula for winning The Ocean Race just yet!

"We’ve won two races, but they were two very different races. The Ocean Race around the world will be a completely different challenge.

"I approach it like a coach in a team sport. I’m constantly thinking about what we need to put in place if we want to win.

"The goal of The Ocean Race Atlantic was really to build towards The Ocean Race next year. And I’m convinced we’re going to have many more great experiences with this boat."

What’s the secret to performing at such a high level? Is there a 'Paul Meilhat formula'?

"That’s not an easy question to answer…

"I think one of the keys is to think differently.

"The Ocean Race Europe and The Ocean Race Atlantic are new races, so we’re all figuring out how best to approach them, how to race them and, ultimately, how to win them.

"More generally, I think we still have a lot to learn about how to sail these boats as a crew. I’m always trying to ask as many questions as possible and work out how we can improve."

Do you enjoy racing with a crew more than sailing solo?

"It’s definitely a challenge I really enjoy.

"But I’m someone who doesn’t like doing the same thing over and over again. For example, I’ve done two Vendée Globes and I already know I won’t be doing the next one.

"With The Ocean Race, I’m really drawn to the challenge, the strategic thinking and everything that comes with it."

So is The Ocean Race the next big objective?

"Absolutely. The goal is to be on the start line next January.

At the finish of The Ocean Race Atlantic, the two new boats, DMG MORI Global One and Team Malizia, finished behind two previous-generation boats, United by the Ocean and 11th Hour Racing. What do you make of that?

"I don’t think we should read too much into it yet. That’s going to change.

"We saw that the new boats have enormous potential. I think they’ll finish far more races ahead of us than behind us!

"I take my hat off to them. They managed to cross the Atlantic twice just a few weeks after launching the boats.

"When you know how difficult it is to get these boats fully reliable, to complete a transatlantic race in conditions like those is seriously impressive.

"And you can already see that the technical level of those boats is extremely high.

You’ve also developed a fairly unique sponsorship model with United by the Ocean…

"The idea is to bring companies together under one banner.

"We want to bring together people from all backgrounds and from all over the world. That’s why it’s important for the project to have an international dimension, with Mariana and Sara on board helping us connect with Portugal and the United States.

"Ultimately, we’d like to have a crew made up of several different nationalities.

"And with the different host cities, we could even imagine changing crew members along the way, with those sailors bringing their own take into the project.

"I genuinely believe in this collaborative approach.

Finding the funding hasn’t necessarily been easy over the past few months. In offshore racing, do you have to go through the difficult periods to truly appreciate moments like this?

"Yes. I think those low points make you appreciate it even more when you’re back out on the water, experiencing moments this intense.

"Getting the boat launched was complicated, and everyone worked harder than ever, despite some very tight deadlines.

"But when we arrived in New York, everyone had a smile on their face again. Going there is something that affects everyone!

"And now we’ve won the race, which makes it even better.

"That’s offshore racing! You spend the winter getting your hands dirty, dealing with glue, dust and everything else and working incredibly hard. Then the reward is spending the summer racing and sailing as much as you possibly can.

"That’s what I love about it.!"