Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Friday November 8, 2024 at 10:39 a.m.
Winner of the last Vendée Globe, Yannick Bestaven (Maitre Coq) sets off on a new solo round-the-world trip this Sunday, with the desire to shine, but above all to enjoy this extraordinary adventure.
In the rich history of the Vendée Globe, only one sailor has managed to triumph twice (Michel Desjoyeaux), but not in two editions in a row (that was in 2001 and 2009). Yannick Bestaven, winner of the 2020-21 edition on Maitre Coq, could fuel this ambition, but the skipper, who will celebrate his 52nd year at sea if all goes well (December 28), first wants to experience a great adventure. “If it can happen, I won't deprive myself of it, but that's not my main motivation for going to this Vendée Globe. I want to take advantage of all the moments that will be offered to me, that's is a hell of a dose of adrenaline. It's the summary of a life in three months, exceptional moments. We will count the points at the end. (…) I am even more ready and experienced than four years ago, that’s important. There's always a little stress starting on a project like that, but that's what makes you feel alive,” explained the native of St-Nazaire at a press conference.
A refurbished boat
For his third Vendée Globe (he abandoned in 2008), Yannick Bestaven will benefit from a refurbished boat, Maitre Coq V, and the skipper knows that reliability will be the key word if he wants to complete his world tour. “We will have to balance the effort and the speed of the boat, because we will have to hold this marathon, not break. Going fast, we pretty much all know how to do that, going fast for a long time is more difficult. To win the Vendée Globe, you must have the best average speed, and above all be able to manage unforeseen events. (…) We made a new Maitre Coq, we took our time, it took us three years, but we really feel ready. Over the three seasons, we didn't have any really exceptional results, but we were really focused on the Vendée Globe. It's a new boat, but a fairly old design, so we may have a little lack of performance. But I showed that you could win with a slower boat.”
Finally see Cape Horn
On Sunday, 40 boats will set off from Les Sables d'Olonne, a record which delights the title holder: “So much the better, it means that offshore racing is going well, that there are sponsors, boats, sailors. I'm very happy that there are 40 of us, if we could have been 50, so much the better.” Among the 40, he is one of the favorites, just like Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance), Jérémie Beyou (Charal), Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable), Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) or even Boris Herrmann (Malizia Seaexplorer), but the main objective for him will be to reach the finish and also to finally see Cape Horn, which he has not seen. in 2021 because it went very south due to the weather conditions.
(with Thomas Mico)
