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by Sofia Brontvein
How Alan Roura Manages To Survive a Solo Non-Stop Round The World Yacht Race
23 Sept 2024
In September, the Swiss watchmaking maison Hublot unveiled the Big Bang Unico Hublot Sailing Team timepiece, marking the participation of the brand’s ambassador, Alan Roura, in the Vendée Globe round-the-world sailing race this November. Our publisher, Sofia Brontvein, spoke with Alan about how he collaborated with Hublot on the new watch and how he recovers after completing a global sailing race.
When Swiss native Alan Roura was just a child, his family made the bold decision to sell their home and live aboard a sailing yacht moored in Geneva. Roura affectionately refers to his parents as "sea gypsies" who, in their youth, were ready to give up all comfort in favour of adventure and travel. Alan never attended school; instead, his education took place on board the yacht as the family sailed around the world. It seems almost inevitable that Roura’s adult life would be intertwined with sailing.
At the age of 23, Alan competed for the first time in the Vendée Globe, a solo round-the-world yacht race. Each participant must conquer what is often called the "Everest of the Seas", navigating treacherous conditions without any external assistance or stops. On average, competitors complete the journey in around 100 days, but to stand a chance of victory, they must aim for approximately 80 days. Roura finished his first Vendée Globe in 12th place, becoming the youngest sailor in the race's history.
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For much of his career, Alan raced under the La Fabrique team, sponsored by the Swiss bakery brand of the same name. However, a few years ago, it became clear that the company could no longer support Roura’s ambitions, as he dreamed of conquering the Vendée Globe. Success in such races heavily depends on the yacht itself, which must be constructed entirely from carbon to ensure both lightness and strength. The keel alone on such vessels can cost around 300,000 euros. Roura’s aspirations found support from the Swiss watchmaking Maison Hublot, a brand whose very name is a nod to sailing.
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In French, the word “hublot” means “porthole”. Thus, the first model of the eponymous brand, the Subaquaneus, created in 2004, was dedicated to sailors. While Hublot's collection has since expanded with numerous innovations and complications, the brand’s connection to the ocean remains a core part of its DNA. Since 2022, Alan Roura has captained the Hublot Sailing Team, competing in the Route du Rhum and Vendée Globe, as well as the Transat Jacques-Vabre and Vendée-Arctique races.
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During the presentation of the new Big Bang Unico Hublot Sailing Team watch in Lorient, France, Alan Roura explained why luxury brands are interested in funding sailing. “Yachting appears premium and exclusive. The sport aligns with the philosophy of luxury brands, yet when it comes to sponsorship, it’s actually quite an affordable segment. Our team receives funding of 2 million euros per year and competes in top regattas around the globe. When compared to football, basketball, or tennis, it’s a modest sum," Roura explains. Furthermore, the branding scale is incomparable to a discreet logo on a football jersey — the signature identity on the black Hublot Sailing Team yacht is visible from kilometres away.
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This November, Alan will once again participate in the Vendée Globe, aiming to complete the round-the-world journey in 80 days. "There is no bed on a racing yacht. I have one chair where I can occasionally sleep to regain strength. For nearly three months, I’m surrounded only by the sea, spending all my time alone with the yacht. After every Vendée Globe race, I must essentially re-learn how to live on land. I always tell my wife it takes me about a week to return to normal. I get used to the sounds of the city, remember how to walk, drive, and interact with people," Roura shares.
Accompanying Alan in the upcoming race will be the Big Bang Unico Hublot Sailing Team watch. He became the first owner of the new timepiece, which was presented to him during the Lorient event. Roura worked on the design of the watch alongside Hublot and says this chronograph reflects his life and career. For instance, the dial features the inscription "SUI 7" – the trigram for the IMOCA class yacht Alan competes with in ocean races and a nod to the sailor’s Swiss origins.
Like the yacht itself, the watch is crafted in a black-and-yellow colour scheme. These shades echo the black-and-gold design of Hublot’s first-ever model, the Classic Original. The chronograph’s 42mm case is made from ultra-strong polished carbon fibre, while the strap, inspired by the mainsail of the IMOCA yacht, is made from fabric with a black polyurethane coating reminiscent of sailcloth. The watch will be released as part of a limited collection, with only 100 pieces available.
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