The day of glory.
Yannick Bestaven, winner of the Vendée Globe 2020-2021 and Jean Le Cam, fourth in this legendary edition after having saved Kevin Escoffier, shipwrecked in the South Atlantic, were honored this Monday evening at the Élysée.
Emmanuel Macron, who, we remember, had a long video exchange with "King John" to thank him after the rescue, presented the Legion of Honor to the two sailors in a moment of strong emotion.
Jean Le Cam and Yannick Bestaven admitted having been very moved during the presentation of their Legion of Honor.
Martin Couturie
Before decorating them in front of all the participants of the last round the world trip, the President of the Republic congratulated the two men, "
two heroes of the Vendée Globe, a French passion, a carnal part of our geography and much more than a race.
".
“
Yannick Bestaven, you have succeeded in blowing a whiff of pride, a thrill of adventure and an invigorating wind of solidarity (…) You are crazy about the sea, crazy about the absolute (…) You are an antidote to sluggishness, you are fascinating alive
”, declared the President of the Republic in particular to the winner.
To read also Jean Le Cam: "The legion of honor with Macron at the Penfret lighthouse, it would have had a mouthful"
“
Jean Le Cam, free… Free in the head, in the words, in the actions.
(…) You marked the race with your talent and your panache, then chained the president.
You made us live everything: joy, fear, sadness, loneliness, happiness.
I repeat to you the pride of all French people for your heroic act, for your courage (…) You dragged us along in the wake of your dreams…
”
President Emmanuel Macron sports the motto of Jean Le Cam during his world tour.
Martin Couturie
After these pretty and long presidential words, Emmanuel Macron decorated the two men knighted in the Legion of Honor and posed at length for photos with them.
“
It stirs.
There is Cape Horn and the President's speech,
Yannick Bestaven admits to us as he descends from the platform of the Elysée village hall.
I had tears in my eye.
How touching.
He loves the sea, the maritime world and offshore racing.
It is an honor to be congratulated this evening.
It's moving ...
"
“We didn't take our eyes off each other during his speech.
It was an incredible moment, a kind of sincerity in a magical place.
"
Jean Le Cam
For his part, Jean Le Cam also recognized a real emotion.
“
It’s moving.
I didn't think it would take that long.
The time granted and the tone… We did not take our eyes off each other during his speech.
It was an incredible moment, a kind of sincerity in a magical place.
"
Read also “The ambition is to win the Vendée Globe 2024”… Yoann Richomme, new skipper of the Paprec-Arkéa boat, is hungry for success
The other Vendée Globe sailors appreciated this great moment of authenticity.
“
I would have liked to be in their shoes but that's not a goal in itself.
We are already working very hard to prepare for the next one,
”admitted Charlie Dalin, second in this legendary Vendée Globe after having crossed the finish line in the lead on January 27th.
"
What makes you want to win the Vendée Globe, the Legion of Honor, it is the consequence of victory
", concludes Thomas Rouillard, returning from Martinique after his victory in the Transat Jacques Vabre and determined to continue on the path to success during the 2024 round the world trip. To end up one day on this platform at the Élysée Palace.
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