“Before something really affects me or gets in my way, you have to go,” said the
Figaro
Charlie Dalin before the start of the Vendée Globe.
His damage, which occurred Monday after three weeks of racing in the lead, inevitably damaged his morale.
But with the tenacity peculiar to seafarers, the Norman has not let go to resume the thread of his round-the-world trip temporarily broken at the beginning of the week.
This Wednesday morning, Apivia was spinning again at over 20 knots on the Pacific route, 150 miles from the leading duo Bestaven-Rouillard.
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Construction site on the Apivia bridge
As a consequence of the breakage of the low wedge of the port foil, a part which supports the appendage from below, the significant loss of ground on the race leader is also due to the hours spent replacing its damaged piece of carbon.
Because the DIY session was not trivial, as we can see in the images sent by the winner of the last Transat Jacques Vabre.
At the foot of his mast on the deck of his boat, grinder in hand, Dalin himself fashioned a new low hold, guided by his shore team.
⚒ DIY workshop aboard APIVIA!
⚒
Together
with his shore team, Charlie made a replacement part for the damaged part of the lower hold of foil @ ApiviaMutuelle. |
@Apivia_courtage |
@ GroupeMacifpic.twitter.com / FakLOOFjZq
- Apivia Voile - Charlie Dalin (@ApiviaVoile) December 16, 2020
“The part is finished, the replacement shim.
I'll put on the cape to tip the boat.
And I'm going to go and see if I can put it on, ”he explains in a video.
During the cutting workshop, the skipper had exchanged his oilskin for a worksite suit.
His glasses, mask and gloves made him look like Walter White, the sulphurous hero of the Breaking Bad series.
Yet another illustration of the impressive adaptability that Vendée Globe sailors must demonstrate to achieve their dream.
And the skill level needed to avoid dropping out.
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