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Cape Horn "Dantesque", "night in hell" to seek Escoffier: Bestaven tells about his Homeric Vendée Globe

2021-01-28T08:25:55.204Z


The winner of the 9th edition of the Vendée Globe retraced the great moments of his round-the-world tour, including the rescue operation of Kevin Escoffier. An episode that marked him with a hot iron.


In Sables d'Olonne

"A formidable arrival" despite the closed session


“It was an exceptional finish despite these complicated sanitary conditions.

I have never experienced a "normal" arrival but the one I have just experienced in times of Covid is formidable.

I was aiming to finish this Vendée Globe after a very short first participation in 2008 because of my dismasting.

This frustration, I couldn't stand it for a long time.

I was leaving to finish the Vendée and pretty well.

I had all the cards in my hands.

A great Master CoQ partner, a pro team around me, a good boat, experience and maturity.

I was like "if you finish it, you can do it within 5".

Then gradually, I got caught up in the game. There were withdrawals, breakages, it's part of the Vendée Globe which is a marathon.

When I was able to catch up with Thomas and Charlie in the deep South and take the lead, I told myself that there was something to do.

Now I want to drink a good beer and party with my friends. ”

"All those who could claim victory believed for a moment that it was going to end"

At sea, nobody escapes the galleys


“When I was in front of Brazil without wind losing 450 miles in advance, I no longer believed in victory.

For all the sailors who will cross the finish line, it is already a victory.

We all have ups and downs.

You can tell yourself that you have organized everything, that you have thought of everything, the Vendée Globe is the unexpected, a pain to overcome every day as Michel Desjoyeaux said.

We must find solutions, go deep into it.

Charlie repaired his foil bass-wedge, Louis who climbs up his mast to repair and then finds himself in the lead to almost win ... All those who could claim victory believed for a moment that it was going to stop . "

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Planets aligned


“The key to my race was good preparation beforehand.

I left very serene, well in my head.

I knew what it was like to sail around the world solo.

I knew it was dangerous but I left without stress thanks to my entourage who helped me to be Zen.

My partner never put pressure on me by saying that it was absolutely necessary to win for it to be super profitable.

My team told me "you have a good boat, you can shoot it, it's up to you".

I left in great conditions.

All the planets aligned well. ”

"Frankly I thought it was dead, that it was over"

The rescue of Kevin Escoffier


“It moved me.

I made a video the next day, it was too early to talk about it.

It took me a while to get back into the race after that.

(He tells) The race director calls me and doesn't necessarily ask me to go to Kevin's help.

She tells me that I am a little far from him and that I must turn around.

She asks me if I'm ready to join Jean (Le Cam) to have more chances.

I say of course I will.

I change sails, I am downwind and I go upwind in six meters deep.

In the area, the first person I call on VHS is Jean who is a little upset because at nightfall he had missed Kevin.

When you know how little chance you have of survival when the hours go by, Jean was also very scared at that time.

And we spent a night in hell, there are no other words.

It lasted all night until dawn.

You are not in your boat but on the bridge looking for a friend in a life raft.

It's cold, you have spray, the sea, facing the wind with three reefs in the mainsail.

I was already cold and sore on the bridge looking for him, I said to myself "how he must suffer in his life raft that the waves must overturn".

The more hours passed… Frankly I thought it was dead, that it was over.

Early in the morning Jean said to me "I got Kevin back".

At the time I did not believe it. "

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At the end of the suspense, Yannick Bestaven wins the Vendée Globe ahead of Charlie Dalin

His tribute to the race director


“It took me a while to get back on the road.

I was very scared for Kevin.

For us also afterwards because you tell yourself that if his boat broke why not yours too.

Afterwards, the race resumes, you regain confidence and it's off again.

It was a difficult time.

I'm really glad it ended well.

I congratulate Jacques Caraës and the race management for the organization put in place.

We crisscrossed the area and the emotion was put aside.

It was very professional.

They handled it with poise.

Thanks to them, we were able to save Kevin. ”

"It's a bit enjoyable when the boat goes to full speed"

The explanations on his last fast and decisive tack


“The northern option that I take to pass west of the Azores gave me confidence after having lost so many miles (ahead of Brazil).

I had big sails problems from the Horn.

On a reaching edge under J3 instead of J2 I can see that I am not losing ground, I am keeping pace.

It gave me confidence, I was then 5th.

My routings sent me north.

There were fronts to go and I had the wardrobe.

I did not hesitate.

And when you take an option that starts to pay off you go to the end.

I didn't want to relax, I was on it.

I was resting in small sections, the boat was going at over 20 knots at times.

It's a bit enjoyable when the boat is going at full speed.

And as you go up you go up. "

»READ ALSO -

The unfinished symphony of Boris Herrmann

© Jean-Marie Liot / Alea

“A Dantesque moment at the Horn”


“I have lots of good memories.

The descent of the Saint Helena high pressure, edge to edge with Boris (Herrmann) where he films me with his drone.

Limit we stop to have a drink!

The passage of Cape Horn in the lead is nevertheless an unforgettable moment.

I was coming out of complicated weather conditions.

I was 200 miles ahead and the Cape Horn exit gate was a liberation.

I had never seen a sea as big as before Cape Horn, it was easily 10 meters.

By pushing into the waves, my balcony tore off.

I was going in surfs at over 30 knots.

It was a dantesque and unforgettable moment.

The passage of Cape Horn was a liberation. "

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Louis Burton:" My boat is completely ruined "

Dalin's fair play


“I congratulated Charlie on his very good race.

He reacted like a great sportsman, he does not argue.

These are the racing rules, he is aware of that.

He crossed the line first but in corrected time he was 2nd.

I thanked him for his sportsmanship and fair play.

I told him that in four years he would be carrying the trophy. ”

Vendée Globe: From Lamazou to Le Cléac'h, the winners of “Everest of the Seas”

  • In images, in pictures

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    Louis Burton: "My boat is completely ruined"

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-01-28

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