“
It's not easy to land.
It's quite violent when you arrive from the sea. There are a lot of media requests.
I wonder if I'm not more tired now, my body is starting to tell me: 'rest'.
Just arrived the day before from Pointe-à-Pitre, Charles Caudrelier went to visit
Le Figaro
on Tuesday to confide in six days after his triumph in the 12th edition of the Route du rhum.
And the first "amusing" confidence is that the sailor of
Maxi Edmond de Rothschild
did not appreciate having been canceled at the last moment by the program "Quotidien" to make way for
"a guy from the Star Ac'»
.
Annoying it is true, when we signed an authentic exploit and crossed the Atlantic for the first time in less than 7 days (6 days 19 hours…)
To discover
Route du Rhum: live, the positions and rankings of the boats on the cartography of the 12th edition
While the podiums in the Ultim, Ocean Fifty and Imoca monohull trimaran categories are now known (the first Class40 is expected this Wednesday morning) and the latecomers are continuing to arrive in Guadeloupe, Charles Caudrelier admitted that he had
"difficulty realize”
the scope of his victory.
“We lived the Routes du rhum
(previous, editor’s note)
by proxy and when you are in it, it does not seem as grandiose.
But I have to see the images of the finish that I didn't see to realize.
I was too active.
And I struggled to have emotions at the finish, I was so in the race
.
»
fierce duel
A race, a physical, mental and nautical fight, notably with François Gabart, during which he felt
“infinite pleasure, even if there was a lot of stress”
.
"I had a few moments of grace, especially at the end when I was in the lead and felt the race was coming to me."
A crossing
"without galleys",
during which he still
"learned things"
and made some
"rookie mistakes"
for his first participation.
"I wanted to do so well that I chained maneuvers while François (Gabart) came back doing simple things."
In total, between complicated weather conditions and a fierce duel with his closest rival, the Breton experienced 15 tacks, 17 gybes (tacking in the downwind) and a "
great leg of the Solitaire du Figaro
(an event that he won in 2004)
”
.
And, barely arrived, here he is already projecting himself on the sequel, insatiable.
To prepare for the brand new solo round the world race contested on these 32-meter Ultim trimarans in January 2024, he will set off to attack the Jules Verne Trophy, the crewed round the world record, this winter ( stand-by from December 20).
"It's the best preparation.
And we are going to develop our boat”
to remain competitive against the most recent sailboats of the competition.
“If we don't move forward, we will find ourselves behind.
I can't wait to compete in this round the world race.
It will be a huge challenge to go fast and to manage the boat so as not to break over the length
.
“
It will not last 6 days, like the Route du rhum, but between 40 and 50 days.
“There will be breakage, that's for sure.
But I think our boats are ripe for all that.
They have become safer
, ”says Charles Caudrelier, determined to sign a legendary double.