The gap is certainly significant.
More than two days after Charles Caudrelier (Edmond de Rothschild trimaran), big winner of the Arkéa Ultim Challenge, Thomas Coville crossed the finish line off the coast of Brest this Thursday.
A second place after 53 days at sea for which he would surely not have signed before departure on January 7, as the sailor loves competition and victory.
But in the end, this place on the podium can satisfy him, because he is ahead of two rivals with boats a priori faster than his, Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire) still located 1600 miles from the terminus and Tom Laperche (SVR -Lazartigue), forced to abandon in South Africa.
Fourth at the equator during the descent of the Atlantic, Thomas Coville took advantage of the first pit stop at Le Cléac'h to overtake him before having to stop in Hobart in Tasmania to repair various technical glitches ( balcony, net, foil descent, etc.).
And when it comes time to take stock, he will have sailed a good part of his circumnavigation with Le Cléac'h, who beat him to Cape Horn by a few hours.
“I wanted this competition, I wanted to be in confrontation.
It's a privilege and a real satisfaction to fight with Armel, winner of the Vendée Globe
(2016)
, he is a reference for me.
We are in a bit of the same race, with our technical setbacks which have cut our sporting wings at several times, but also with the anger and the desire to fight.
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An unrivaled track record
True to himself, happy at sea despite technical problems and never stingy with quasi-philosophical thoughts, Thomas Coville managed to share his adventure during this world tour which overall did not enthuse the crowds, far from it.
As a result, the 55-year-old sailor, former solo round-the-world record holder, completed his ninth circumnavigation of the planet, the sixth in a multihull, the fifth solo, and the first in flying mode.
Quite a feat...