“All scenarios are possible in the Vendée Globe”

« Do even better “. Four years after a delicate edition (13th) due to several damages noted on his boat, Jérémie Beyou presents himself with the same ambition for his fifth Vendée Globe: victory. Currently fifth in the general classification and after a very calm start from Les Sables d'Olonne last Sunday, the skipper found the wind again at Cape Finisterre and is on his way south to Cape Roca in Portugal. At the helm of a new Imoca, Charal 2, which he has been refining and making reliable for three years (3rd Route du Rhum 2022, 2nd Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race 2023, 4th Transat Jacques Vabre 2023, 3rd New York-Vendée 2024 and 3rd Défi Azimut 2024), Jérémie Beyou has no shortage of assets to calmly enter the tenth edition of this solo race which is nicknamed “the Everest of the Seas”.

His goal? Travel 45,000 kilometers (or 24,300 miles) non-stop and without assistance as quickly as possible in order to beat the record held since 2017 by Armel Le Cléac'h who completed his world tour in 74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds, or almost two and a half months. To do this, he can count on his brand new Imoca, equipped with the latest technologies from the American equipment manufacturer Garmin, specialist in GPS navigation systems. But it is also on the wrist that everything is at stake with the range of Garmin Marq Captain connected watches of which Jérémie Beyou is the ambassador. An ideal watch companion for the skipper who can, in just a few clicks, have a complete overview of the situation for safe navigation where time passes differently.

Le Point: You are competing in your fifth Vendée Globe. How do you approach this race with which you have forged a special bond?

Jeremy Beyou : The scenario was very special four years ago since I left around ten days after everyone else. This 13th place did not necessarily reflect the sporting level. I keep in mind that it was nevertheless an accomplished world tour in the end. We must always keep in mind that all scenarios are possible in the Vendée Globe and I am crossing my fingers that this one does not happen again. The preparation went very well with good results in the last races in which I participated. Above all, I am very motivated for this edition. The signals are green and I couldn't wait to go to sea. Afterwards, the Vendée Globe remains a race in which there are very good competitors and always an element of uncertainty.

What is the main difficulty in a Vendée Globe?

Going to sea for several months and leaving your family on land is never easy. Skipper is a profession of passion, we prepare for it and it is a choice that we make to take part in races as engaging as the Vendée Globe. Departure is always a real relief after intense preparation of more than three years which is involving for the sailor, those close to him and the entire team.

You are at the helm of your new Imoca with increased performance. Was it easy to adapt your navigation between Charal 1 and 2?

On this Vendée Globe 2024 campaign, I was lucky enough to be able to keep Charal 1 during the construction of the new Imoca and I was thus able to continue sailing on it. There was therefore no break at the sporting level. This was a real asset and above all was very beneficial for training since in the past, I have never sailed and raced in an Imoca as much as before a Vendée Globe, which is very reassuring before taking the start. I have my bearings, I know that I am comfortable alone, knowing the difficulties of the exercise and how to master them.

What are the strengths of Charal 2?

Charal 2 is a well-made boat. We have no structural concerns on it and we were able to complete the entire circuit offered by the Imoca championship in the two years that have passed, including six transatlantic seats. It's something I've never done in the past in terms of preparation, which is very interesting sportingly and mechanically. For knowledge of Charal 2, it's just perfect. The boat is very reliable and efficient. It is one of the fastest on power and upwind gaits (this is called the gait for a sailboat that goes upwind as close as possible, Editor's note) without forgetting its versatility on all gaits and the margin for progression that we won thanks to a new pair of foils at the start of the year.

Your Imoca Charal 2 is equipped by the equipment manufacturer Garmin of which you are one of the ambassadors. Is this technology a major ally in races like the Vendée Globe?

In these races like the Vendée Globe, Garmin above all ensures our safety on board by equipping the boat with plotters, repeaters, radars, VHF radio, cameras and displays. We have retained most of the technology present on Charal 1. The novelty of Charal 2 is found inside the boat which has been completely wired with the Garmin EmpirBus, in other words the electronic backbone, without forgetting the addition of new TD 50 screens which are a real evolution of the equipment compared to Charal 1.

Once in the race, your eyes are mainly focused on which instruments?

I have my repeaters with the entire environment of the boat, that is to say its speed, its list, its trim as well as the external environment therefore the direction, force and speed of the wind. This is the information that I constantly monitor, such as the autopilot, power consumption or battery charge, which I can easily view on my two TD 50 screens. Most of this data is also found on the watch. Garmin Marq Captain that I carry on board all the time. No matter where I am on the boat, this instrument quickly allows me to take a complete overview of the navigation situation.

How do you sequence your days on the boat?

It is quite adaptable depending on the navigation situation. However, there are two moments not to be missed during the day when the weather files drop. These fall in the morning around 6-7 a.m. UT (universal time, Editor's note) and in the evening around 6-7 p.m. UT. The idea is to recover the two models as soon as possible in order to study them and run the routings, especially if we are in unstable weather situations. The Garmin Marq Captain watch is also a great help here and allows me to set alarms regularly so as not to miss anything. Afterwards, in the Vendée Globe, every moment counts. You should not waste too much time on maintenance. Sleep enough but not too much and pay attention to the rankings which are revealed every 4 hours. Around all that, there is obviously a lot of improvisation.

A particular passage that you dread?

The entire race which is very long. A lot will happen with key moments like the start and the first hours of racing being crucial in order to catch the right car. We don't win the race here but this might be where we can lose it. If we fall a few hundred miles behind and after Brazil and Saint Helena we go ahead, we are entering a race in which it will be very difficult to return before Cape Horn. This is also where the first technical problems occur, objects can be dragged in the water and maritime traffic intensifies. You must therefore be very vigilant before the far south part and the sequence of the Indian then the Pacific, a long corridor of several weeks where we enter into harsh conditions. This is the very essence of the Vendée Globe: finding the right rhythm and maintaining it by playing the wind correctly.

To Discover

Kangaroo of the day

Answer

An item not to forget on board?

This is a common question and my answer is never very romantic. I would say my phone. Everything is there, especially photos of my loved ones. It is the means that allows me to communicate with the mainland and my family. If I forget it, I must admit that I would be very annoyed.