Double transatlantic race: the master stroke of the outsider duo Nils Palmieri-Julien Villion

A master stroke. And a splendid surprise. For their very first participation in the Double Transat Concarneau-Saint-Barthélemy, the Swiss Nils Palmieri and the French Julien Villion won Sunday evening (French time) on the nose and the beard, necessarily provided after 18 days at sea, favorites.

However, there were many duos presented by specialists as capable of triumphing for this 15th edition of the Figariste transatlantic race, contested every two years from Concarneau more than two weeks ago. And after a staggered take-off because of the weather, then a group passage on the side of La Palma (Canary Islands), the Figarists were quick to separate between the supporters of the northern option and those of the southern option. And the verdict came late, when two northern boats found themselves in front. And among them, since Friday at the head of the race, the tandem Nils Palmieri and Julien Villion. Who managed to keep the lead and to afford the most beautiful of triumphs this Sunday on the enchanted shores of the island dear to Johnny Halliday.

Only transatlantic race disputed on equal terms

Aged 33, the two sailors had never particularly shone on the Figaro Bénéteau circuit. Julien Villion is best known for having won the Crewed Sailing Tour de France three times in 2012, 2013 and 2019, Nils Palmieri having won in 2015 and 2017 on the M2 Speed ​​Tour before finishing 18th in the Solitaire du Figaro 2020. Their feat is all the greater because they have managed to stay constantly at the forefront and contain the slew of Figarists, more or less young, ready to do anything to triumph on this transatlantic, which like the Solitaire, has seen all the great French sailors pass since its creation by François Xavier Dehaye in 1992.

The only transatlantic race contested on equal terms, it has devoted only talented sailors. Nils Palmieri and Julien Villion can savor their performance. The duo Tanguy Le Turquais and Corentin Douguet (Quéguiner – Innoveo) was well placed on Sunday evening to climb to second place on the podium of this 15th edition marked by an exceptional naval battle of intensity and suspense.