On November 10, the Vendée Globe started from Les Sables d'Olonne. An unmissable event for many enthusiasts. Some even participate in this race virtually, thanks to the Virtual Regatta game. Near Clermont-Ferrand, a couple is passionate about this race.
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If Jean Le Cam, the most popular sailor, is at sea, Eric and Evelyne are doing their world tour from their sofa in Beaumont, near Clermont-Ferrand. Four years ago, they played for the first time in the Virtual Regatta, the virtual version of the race. Yet Eric has only sailed three times in his life. Éric Rimet says: “It was a need for adventure and to experience what real sailors experience. We compare ourselves a little to others and we race. Even if we are 10,000th in the ranking, we can enjoy sailing, choosing the waves and the sails”.
Even without much experience, this amateur took first place in the rankings in the space of one day: 1st out of 750,000 players. To achieve this, he was able to rely on a router, a tool also used by professionals. Eric continues: “A sailboat is not a Zodiac, where the straight line is the quickest path. You have to deal with the winds. For example, we have to zigzag to avoid headwinds.”.
Thanks to Virtual Regatta, Eric plans to set foot on a sailboat again next summer. Evelyne doesn't want to taste the sea spray. She explains: “I love it because it's virtual. Finding myself on a boat, being tossed around in the cabin, doesn't please me. I prefer to be in Auvergne and do it on my phone.”
Each player runs an individual race but the adventure is collective. The couple belongs to a team of 50 people. Their nickname: the Sea Foam. Eric says: “Some players are real sailors so they give us good advice. When we have finished the routing part, which is a bit theoretical, we help each other and then we pull each other out a little.”.
For now, they are one of the top 10 teams in the world. They hope to climb the rankings before arriving in Les Sables d'Olonne scheduled for mid-January.
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