What New Year's Eve for the competitors?

Paul Rouget, Media365: published on Tuesday December 24, 2024 at 6:47 p.m.

While the Vendée Globe participants spend Christmas Eve alone, they console themselves as best they can, with gifts from their loved ones but also a festive meal for some.

As in each edition of the Vendée Globe, the skippers, who are still 36 in the race after the four retirements already recorded, will spend Christmas Eve at sea, alone on their boat. But they will still try, as best they can, to experience “a festive moment”, as explained by regular Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline), who is taking part in the legendary race alone for the fifth time.

Today 27th in a general ranking still dominated by Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) and Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance), who crossed Cape Horn, the Bordelais, who crossed paths with Eric Bellion (28th, Stand As One – Altavia ), will enjoy, as he confides to Ouest-France, an “improved dish” for his New Year’s Eve dinner.

“A veal blanquette prepared by my big sister,” he explains. “It’s there, in a box. In the morning I will have truffle pasta, with a little taste of Génépi. I also have a small bottle from Château La Verrière especially for the event I also have M & M'S “I love Cali” (his nickname, editor's note). I have also nice Santa socks.”

Also a “blues”

Enough to stay in the Christmas atmosphere… But despite these more festive meals, with the gifts that go with them, not all sailors experience this necessarily special moment in the same way, which they will spend alone rather than in the company of their loved ones.

The Belgian Denis Van Weynbergh, for his first participation in the Vendée Globe, admits that “emotionally, it's difficult to spend Christmas away from loved ones and in somewhat hostile environments here,” admits the D'Ieteren Group skipper. I tell myself that it's still an incredible chance to spend a Christmas like this, near Australia, doing the Vendée Globe, it doesn't happen often in one's life, or to everyone, so I considered a VIP.” Which, however, will not prevent him from having a little “blues” when it's time to wake up.