Alexia Barrier, not just a sailor

Early on a Sunday morning the square in Biot, a small perched Provençal village on the French Riviera, is already busy. The terrace of Café de la Poste is bathed in autumn sunlight, locals gathered to catch up with friends and neighbors or discuss what’s in the news. Alexia passes between the tables, addressing each person by their name and answering a stream of questions — everyone in the village knows her. She grew up here and many of those she speaks with still find it a little strange to see her on TV or looking back at them from a newspaper.

She's just returned from a long period at sea and she hasn't touched her bike in a while. This morning, she'll settle for a small tour of the surrounding hills, taking advantage of the few closed roads she knows to let her dog Nikka run alongside her. The bike and yoga are the winning combination for Alexia's physical and mental preparation.

Unfortunately, her Trek Domane doesn't accompany her everywhere, and when she reunites with it, it's never for very long. The goal in the coming weeks is to ride, to take advantage of the mild temperatures in the region during winter to accumulate kilometers. The distances covered on the bike will prove beneficial on the boat; it's all about preparation, leaving nothing to chance. Success on the boat relies on training that neglects nothing, so she'll 'push the limits.'

In the sailing world, Alexia Barrier's name is increasingly heard in the rarefied air where a select few share the records. Since joining the very limited circle of women who have achieved a Vendée Globe (a solo round-the-world race), the machine has spun, and nothing seems to scare the Azurian sailor anymore. There’s something special happening near Mont Ventoux. We can’t let on what it is just yet, but join us in the shadow of the bald mountain in April for a special occasion…

The Famous Project was born from this desire to push the limits a bit further, to step up in the level of challenge on the ocean's surface. In her sights now is a record attempt on the Jules Verne Trophy, a non-stop, unassisted round-the-world voyage, with an all-female international crew. The Jules Verne is the world of Ultimes, giant sailboats, 32 meters long and 23 meters wide. It's been 25 years since a woman’s name was on the Jules Verne Trophy; never has an all-female crew even got to the start line.

When asked why she chose to put together an all-female crew, Alexia responds that at the dawn of the project, she wondered who she would like to sail with. Names of women naturally came to mind. It's not that she doesn't enjoy sailing in mixed crews, but 'there's a need to shake things up in the sport; currently only 5% of offshore race participants are women. Men are highly paid for what they do; for women, it's out of the question. So, to make things move, we need to prove that women are just as capable as men on a boat, so we'll work on it.'

Alexia participated in the Lady Liberty Regatta in September 2023, a race organized by the Manhattan Yacht Club. A technical race on the Hudson River in New York, with strong currents. It was a race on J80s, '7-meter monohulls that don't move much,' Alexia chuckles. An international race competed by female crews from all corners of the world. Alexia's crew won the race, just ahead of the Americans. 'What I mainly remember is the sharing; there were women for whom sailing remains exceptional in their country, especially the Koreans. We were like Rock Stars in this race, and it's amusing to see what we're capable of influencing with this status. We fully committed to it; it was a beautiful human adventure.'

The Famous Project is on track, and its Leader doesn't spare any effort to give the project all the support it requires. For over a year now, the crew has been sailing on Limosa, a MOD70, a 21-meter-long trimaran, and 17 meters wide. The boat is a monster for ordinary mortals. For Alexia, the MOD70 is 'like a kart... with it, we sail on the edge at high intensity, constantly pushing it to the brink of capsizing,' she explains with a broad smile!

Limosa belongs to the project; Alexia acquired it last year. The boat proudly paraded among billionaires' super yachts in Saint Tropez Bay last October for the famous Voiles de Saint Tropez. On board, the crew has just won the Rolex Middle Sea Race for the second time. They also won it on 'La griffe du Lion' last May, a race from La Grande Motte to the Spanish border, setting a speed record in the process. The rest of the year, Limosa is safely moored in the Mediterranean when the crew doesn't push it to its limits.

But the boat preparing for the record attempt is somewhere in Brittany on the Atlantic Coast. The multihull lent by IDEC Sport is yet another world, over 30 meters long, a monster. 'When the boat heels, you're on top of a 6-story building,' Alexia exclaims, all smiles. This boat currently holds the Jules Verne Trophy record: a round-the-world trip in 40 days and 23 hours. 'That's the time we'll need to beat,' says Alexia, still smiling. This prospect doesn't even make her flinch; she even finds it amusing, knowing the journey that still lies ahead. The boat is currently undergoing renovations; it will be ready at the beginning of 2024, and then the serious stuff will begin...

Photos credit : Christol Robin and Christophe Rousseau

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