the essential
One week before the start of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, one of its creators resurfaced in Les Sables-d'Olonne this Saturday, November 2. Returning to his roots, Philippe Jeantot was duly honored, inaugurating a quay in his name, and wanted to draw the curtain on a turbulent past.
By recounting the tumultuous life of Philippe Jeantot, there would be enough to make a film. The former skipper, back in Les Sables-d'Olonne almost twenty years after his last visit to the city, was honored by Mayor Yannick Moreau for all of his work. The councilor decided to rename the Quai Amiral-de-la-Gravière to the Quai Philippe-Jeantot, in homage to the former organizer of the Vendée Globe.
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In comments reported by France Bleu, the main interested party appeared visibly moved when talking about this adventure which began in 1989: “We cannot not be proud to say that this story, which was born with three guys who were a little drunk in a bar in Sydney, became what it is today.”
At the time, the race was only to consist of a single edition. Ultimately, the event has grown and is celebrating its tenth edition this year. However, the story almost came to an end when in 2003, Philippe Jeantot was indicted and the organizing company placed in liquidation.
Convicted for the first time for tax evasion the same year, he was prosecuted again from 2005 and faced a second conviction in 2007 for new acts of tax evasion.
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Following these various affairs, Philippe Jeantot disappeared from the radar in 2008 and did not resurface before the famous November 2, 2024. He now lives in Thailand with his family and no longer wishes to talk about this time: “I have turned the page and I even did more, I changed books, so we don’t talk about it.”
France
