Le Professeur has a new pupil

Michel Desjoyeaux to compete on Team Bretagne-Crédit Mutuel in the Transat AG2R

Figaro sailor Corentin Horeau, recently named Skipper Performance in the Team Bretagne-Crédit Mutuel, will be competing in the Transat AG2R-La Mondiale with the world's most successful singlehanded skipper, Michel Desjoyeaux.

Team Bretagne-Crédit Mutuel is the French equivalent of the Artemis Offshore Academy in that it runs trials to encourage new blood into the sport of singlehanded offshore racing. Horeau, a second generation solo offshore racer, was the team's 'Skipper Espoir' last year having won the trials in 2012 and has since graduated up to the Skipper Performance slot, vacated by Anthony Marchand.

Corentin Horeau commented: "I didn't really know Michel before dinner with him one night in Gijon during the last Solitaire du Figaro. It was after this dinner that I got the idea to propose to do race the Transat with him. I was a little intimidated, but I told myself that I had nothing to lose. So I sent him an email when he was sailing the Transat Jacques Vabre with François [Gabart]. Upon his return, we started talking more seriously about it. For me it is an honour to sail with a sailor of such a calibre. His record is amazing  - it will bring me a lot during the Transat AG2R...: experience with the weather, his keen eye on performance and his knowledge, because I only have the Figaro under my belt. We will train this winter with five or six sessions planned and which I feel motivated. For my part, I hope to bring him all the motivation and enthusiasm of my youth making us a duo as efficient as possible."

For the doublehanded Vendee Globe winner, who is also a three time Solitaire du Figaro winner, Desjoyeaux (aka Le Professeur), this will see his return to the Transat AG2R-La Mondiale, that sets sail from Concarneau on 6 April bounds for St Barts,for the first time in 16 years. He has already competed in the race three times, winning the first in 1992 with Jacques Caraës.

By accepting this invitation, Desjoyeaux, one of the founders of the famous shorthanded offshore training centre in Port la Foret, the Pôle France Finistère Course, will be able to contribute to Team Bretagne-Crédit Mutuel's 'pathway to excellence'. The Pôle works closely with the team in helping them identify the best talent to bring into its program.

Desjoyeaux commented: "I immediately thought Corentin's idea was friendly when I was offered to sail the Transat AG2R with him. To sail in the Figaro is part of my program in 2014, so this opportunity is welcome. I didn't know Corentin very well before last summer on the Solitaire du Figaro. I admit that the current passed between us and our partnership should be effective. We will train over winter in Port La Forêt where a lot of courses are already scheduled out of the Pôle France Finistère Course."