Lhe gray and sad weather in Sables-d'Olonne goes poorly with the electric atmosphere of the departure village. A record audience, the bright colors and sharp shapes of the boats at the dock, a growing excitement before the race which promises to be thrilling (departure Sunday, 1:02 p.m.): this is the real weather for the Vendée Globe 2024. We definitely felt it in each of the three press conferences held Thursday by four of the favorites, with different atmospheres.
Real and virtual
First of the day, that of the team which brings together Thomas Ruyant on a recent boat, which we call Vulnerable, and the British Sam Goodchild on Ruyant's old boat, LinkedOut, which we call… Vulnerable. An F1-style trip but the F1s are identical, so we will fall back on Vulnerable 1 for Ruyant and 2 for Goodchild. The setting, a press room, no bla-bla, we go straight to the questions. The young skippers – 43 years old for Ruyant, Goodchild will be 35 on November 19 – are smiling and at ease, without forcing the point.
With Boris Herrmann, it's not the same. It's a videoconference, in English. The German from Malizia – Seaexplorer has been in Les Sables for a few days, he spent a lot of time in Hamburg. “No, I'm not afraid of losing contact with the boat, I went up to the mast yesterday (Wednesday, its only outing), I felt good with it. […] Two weeks before the race, I am in a mental tunnel,” explained the 43-year-old skipper. Ouest France underlined that his absence from two obligatory events (photo of skippers and gala meal, at the start of the fortnight) will earn him a fine of 30,000 euros.
Jérémie Beyou met on the first floor of the Charal stand, his sponsor, with his marketing director. The company is putting itself forward and betting big for this second Vendée, the 5th for Beyou, 48 years old, which is a bit more marked than the other two forties. And more open than Boris Herrmann. “I enjoy every moment in the village. I did the average spectator, the different animations of the teams. Being on my 5th start helps me gain perspective on the big jump. I'm starting to focus on myself, I've been working on the weather since Wednesday evening, I'm continuing to exercise, it feels good. »
Jeremy Beyou
Laurent Theillet / SO
What favorites? Not the same reading
Who are the favorites for the race? “I see 15,” expands Ruyant. The level has gone up a notch, the race should be even crazier than in 2020, exciting to follow. » We understand the northern skipper: his previous boat, built for 2020, stands up to the most recent one. “Downwind in the breeze on rough seas, my boat does not go faster in top speed but on average because it stops less,” says Ruyant. “It was designed to better pass the sea,” underlines Goodchild. “My Vulnerable is not bad in the other gaits, but Sam's has a little extra in medium wind and gaits close to the wind. »
Jérémie Beyou was also broad: “the competition is only increasing, and if there were two or three favorites in previous editions, there are many more today. » Including him, with a Charal “at ease in all conditions. We were finally able to test it in the downwind breeze, and its new foils make it better in the medium, which is good for the start. »
“Is Charlie Dalin the big favorite? » On this tight question, Boris Herrmann made a more precise analysis. “Not in my opinion, but more Yoann Richomme (Paprec-Arkéa) and Thomas Rettant (Editor’s note, who have twin boats). Charlie will be very good in the Atlantic. Yoann and Thomas, like me, have a boat more typical for downwind (editor's note, downwind) sea formed by the South Seas. Everything will depend on the weather conditions past the Cape of Good Hope. » A point of agreement with Ruyant: “It is better not to be late entering the South Seas, even if the previous edition showed a different scenario. »
Sails, big and small secrets
Each skipper can carry a limited number of sails – eight, including the obligatory storm jib, and chooses specific front sails. No suspense among the Vulnerable, “we have chosen our sails since January” (Sam Goodchild), “we do not have a container to draw from” (Ruyant). “We have the choice for the four downwind sails. My choice of sails is top secret, says Beyou on the contrary, and it will remain so throughout the race. »
The broken record? Not sure…
For Thomas Ruyant, the record of 74 days could fall depending on the weather, “at 65-70 days. We know the boats much better than in 2020, even than two years ago. »
For Boris Herrmann, it's no. “Going under 74 days does not seem possible to me, the wind is too light at the start. In 2016, for the record, Armel Le Cléac'h only took six days to cross the Equator…” “If we have weather conditions equal to those of 2016-2017, the record will be shattered,” balances Beyou.
At least they agree on the initial weather reading. From light to medium wind at the start, “we will know more about its strength and direction this Friday,” says Beyou, and for the rest “downwind, quickly, strengthening as we gain in the west or southwest. » A great playground, “quieter than the departure of the last deckchairs, it feels good! », summarizes Sam Goodchild.
Their references
Thomas Ruyant. 6th in the last Vendée Globe, winner of the Jacques Vabre 2023 and 2021 transats, of the Route du Rhum 2022. Holder of the record for distance traveled in 24 hours 539.94 miles (approximately 1,000 km) established on December 4, 2023 aboard Vulnerable 1.
Sam Goodchild. 2nd in The Ocean Race 2023 aboard Holcim – PRB (24-hour crewed distance record), 3rd in the Jacques Vabre 2023, 2023 Imoca world champion (Vendée Globe boat class).
Jérémie Beyou. 3rd in Vendée 2017, 13th in 2021, retirements in 2009 and 2013. 3rd in New York – Vendée 2024 and 2nd in Return to Base 2023.
Boris Herrmann. 5th in the Vendée 2020-2021, 2nd in the New York – Vendée and the Transat CIC in 2024, 4th in Return to Base in 2023.
