The skipper crossed the finish line of its second Vendée Globe after 77 days, 03 hours and 39 minutes spent at sea. But violent winds prevent its rise in the channel and force it to confuse to La Rochelle to dock.
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His solo career is not over.
He hardly passed the finish line, which he must already leave alone. Benjamin Dutreux has just completed his second Vendée Globe and to afford a beautiful tenth place. But, he will not be able to celebrate her right away.
Due to the very high swell which falls on the open sea, the skipper is forced to dock his IMOCA in the Port of the Pallice to La Rochelle. This situation is unprecedented.
Video duration: 00:00mn21s
Strong gusts of wind shake the Vendée coast
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© Maxime Jaglin – France Télévisions
To venture into the Sand-d'Olonne channel by this time would be very perilous. “We are more than 4.50 meters in hollow, we have a breaks at the entrance to the port, we have more than 30 knots of winds … It's impossible to put team members on board the Benjamin boat”details Marcel Dutreux, the brother and partner of the skipper.
Upon arrival, browsers are actually joined by team members to dock. This Sunday, the question of letting Benjamin Dutreux be asked alone, by removing his mainsail.
A quickly swept hypothesis. “We made the decision to divert him to La Rochelle because the consequences could have been disastrous”fixes Marcel Dutreux, far from rejoicing this announcement.
-There is no point in making an arrival in dangerous conditions, with the risk of damaging the boat or losing a crew member
Marcel dutreuxBrother of Benjamin Dutreux
The situation is accepted by the skipper, even if it is a new move to morale. “It's hard because he is tired and he has to leave for several hours alone at sea. But he knows that he puts everyone in safety”underlines his brother.
The sailor will therefore resume his place alone and he should arrive In La Rochelle around 1 a.m. The situation will be identical to Clarisse Crémer who should soon arrive.
At the edge of the Sables-d'Olonne channel, the seven sections and the umbrellas are out. Many of them have moved in the hope of being able to acclaim Benjamin Dutreux, despite the bad weather.
But failing to take the arrival of the skipper in photos, they take out their cameras to immortalize the waves that strike the entrance to the port. Some have just learned that the browser will not bring the channel this Sunday.
“Oh no”, Reacts a young woman when we teach her the news. “Well, that's okay … We saw the sea and we know that the conditions were complicated”she relativizes without managing to hide her disappointment.
Despite the wind, the public had once again come in number on the Sables-d'Olonnes channel
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© Maxime Jaglin – France Télévisions
She is not the only one to look gray. “We are disappointed not to see him, but we are proud of him”adds a fan of the skipper. “He gets into safety, it's priority. We say above all that it is he who is unlucky”comments another passerby.
“Il The channel of the Sables d'Olonne will go back on board its Imoca as soon as the conditions allow, in order to celebrate with the Vendée public “informs the organization of the race in a press release.
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