One of the six fastest men around the world under sail, the Spanish Alex Pella will co-skipper Romain Pilliard on Use It Again! the trimaran of the circular economy. The two sailors will set out this fall to tackle the Westabout Round The World Record, against the prevailing winds and currents.
Sixteen years after Ellen MacArthur's solo round-the-world record on this giant 23-meter trimaran, renovated and maintained according to the principles of the circular economy, Romain Pilliard and Alex Pella are tackling one of the world's most difficult records. Only five sailors since 1895 have put their names to this record, and none has ever succeeded in a trimaran. Objective: to demonstrate that the quality of the sporting performance and the human adventure is not reserved for the most innovative and impactful projects for the planet.
Atypical sailor, Romain Pilliard saved this legendary trimaran in 2016 to make it the standard bearer of the circular economy and promote another way of conceiving a project in ocean racing. In 2018, he took the start of the famous Route du Rhum in the Ultim category against the five largest giant trimarans. He finished 4th in Pointe-à-Pitre, happy and proud to have succeeded in this first challenge and already convinced that he will set out again for new adventures! A Westabout Round the World Record to change the direction of things, why not? The project has matured this winter and it is in double-handed with the navigator Alex Pella that Romain Pilliard will try to beat the Westabout Round the World Record.
Alex Pella, man of the sea and seasoned competitor
Holder of the Trophée Jules Verne reference time since 2017 – the crewed round-the-world race - in 40 days 23 hours and 30 minutes with Francis Joyon on Idec Sport, Alex Pella has solid offshore experience. A man of challenges, the Spanish sailor has every intention of making history in ocean racing by becoming the first sailor to hold the two greatest round-the-world records. Winner of the most famous transatlantic races and a man of all records, from the Mini 6.50 to the Ultim trimarans, including the Class40, the Volvo 65 and the Imoca circuit, at 48 years old, Alex Pella is internationally recognized as much for his superb record as for his human qualities. Living in Spain, native of Barcelona, the sailor has French roots through his mother and speaks our language fluently. With laughing eyes and a smile on his face, the navigator with a southern accent is a true lover of sea stories that he always enjoys sharing.
A new sporting challenge.
“I am very happy to start a new round the world race, this time in reverse! If we succeed, I will become the holder of both records, a record I would never have imagined, even the greatest sailors have never attempted it. Today, embarking on this new challenge has a special flavor since I am the father of two young children. Going to sea for almost four months on such a journey is not insignificant. The sporting challenge and Romain's Use It Again! project motivate me enormously, especially as this robust and reliable trimaran is ideal for this Westabout Around The World”explains Alex Pella.
Alex has always been my number one choice!
"I've known Alex for several years, he came to discover my boat after the Route du Rhum, we had already talked about the prospect of this round the world race. Alex has an incredible ability to adapt to others, I felt it from our first training sessions. We get along very well, and when it comes to spending a hundred days double-handed in difficult conditions, you can't go wrong. Today, I have confidence in my boat, I have confidence in my co-skipper, I can't dream of anything better to take on this new challenge", says Romain Pilliard, skipper of the trimaran Use It Again!
Sailing in Brittany, finalizing the technical preparation of the trimaran with Thierry Duprey du Vorsent, the trimaran's new boat captain, managing the organization of life on board (food, clothes, energy, etc.), the return to school is busy for Romain Pilliard and Alex Pella. The crew of the trimaran Use It Again! will be on stand-by at the end of November to set off on the Westabout Round the World Record.
