Vendée Globe: Alexia Barrier will make landfall, one month after Yannick Bestaven

At the end of the line, she said she suffered excruciating back pain after a violent fall.

But Alexia Barrier grits her teeth, and goes on medication.

“I may have a broken vertebra,” she says.

I was offered a wheelchair for my arrival but refused, I think I can walk.

I might have a cane… ”

For the 41-year-old sailor, there was no question of giving up.

“My goal was to finish,” she says.

I'm almost there.

»This Sunday, she will go up the channel of Sables d'Olonne, in penultimate position (the Finn Ari Huusela, currently off the Azores, will bring up the rear).

But whatever the classification.

Find the vacations of the two skippers still in the race📄

- @Alexia_Barrier: "Tomorrow, it's pizza and champagne for breakfast!"

- @arihuusela: "I want to enjoy my last days at sea"

To read here ➡️https: //t.co/vyVoenMU5M#VG2020 pic.twitter.com/1YzzOI7GON

- Vendée Globe (@VendeeGlobe) February 27, 2021

“With the oldest boat in the fleet, I knew that I would not win the Vendée Globe and that I would take 30% more time than the others,” she explains.

I am just delighted to complete the tour of the world.

At no time do I say to myself:

Oh dear, I suck, the others are already at home and I'm still here!

"

Landed a month ago, Yannick Bestaven has not seen much of his house.

“I don't really have a normal life, I get pushed around even more than in the South Seas,” says the man who has had all kinds of meetings since his arrival.

It's both rewarding to feel like you've done something big and quite scary because your schedule is no longer yours.

It's pretty dizzying to go from a lonely world to a time when you're under attack from everywhere.

"

"I am asked to think about a whole bunch of projects"

Alexia is preparing for this moment.

"I imagine it will be unsettling," she breathes.

I'm already thinking about how I'm going to dress for the finish.

There is no need, however, to ask her how many days she has been gone.

“I just know it's over 100. After two months, I lost track of time.

I live day by day… "

Time, Yannick Bestaven, he is lacking.

"Am I going to write a book, am I having a film of my adventure made, do I want to leave, if so under what conditions?"

he asks himself.

I am asked to think about a whole bunch of projects… ”

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“Sometimes, I imagine what the other skippers have been doing since they arrived, some are probably resting, notes Alexia.

However, the fact that I am still at sea has never demoralized me.

I followed Yannick's victory, the arrivals of the other five girls, especially since we had all promised to go to the end, and I refocused on my navigation.

"

After the world tour, Alexia Barrier will embark on a tour de France to meet children.

TSE-4myPlanet  

Last week, Yannick Bestaven treated himself to a week's vacation on the Arcachon basin with his loved ones.

“On the Pila dune, I stopped to take selfies.

My mother was hallucinating that I was recognized, the skipper of

Maître Coq is

surprised

.

We cannot send out people who have followed us for several weeks.

"

Alexia's “4MyPlanet” ecological project has been studied by thousands of children.

"I am now going to meet them everywhere in France," she anticipates.

I want them to see me in real life so that they understand that my adventure was not bullshit, that it was not reality TV.

I really exist!

"

Bestaven in 2024… but on the Olympic side

Yannick Bestaven has turned into an ambassador of choice.

“I have met four ministers, I have familiarized with three,” he laughs.

We had real exchanges.

I did not speak of ecology but of transmission.

Unlike the children who, in the mountains, all ski on Wednesdays, I find that by the sea we do not offer enough maritime activities to our schools.

We want to put more sport in school with a view to the 2024 Olympic Games. This is an area that interests me a lot, as does the training of young people in nautical professions and the support of our top athletes.

"

Following my victory at the @VendeeGlobe, a medal from the city of La Rochelle and a jersey signed by all the @staderochelais players, thank you @JFFountaine and thank you to all the rugby players!

🙏🙏 https://t.co/zsgRnsN1x8

- YANNICK BESTAVEN (@YannickBestaven) February 26, 2021

In a few hours, Alexia will leave her boat, drop the sailors' WhatsApp thread, the one Boris Herrmann had launched and which allowed some to discuss during the race. “There are only two of us at sea, but those who are ashore continue to send messages, it's something very strong,” she confides. “I do not communicate, I was not really able to go to the arrivals of others, deplores Yannick. All this for lack of time. But we'll all see you at the awards ceremony in the spring… ”