40 skippers from the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe will leave on Sunday for a new solo journey around the world.
Cheered by hundreds of thousands of people gathered along the quays of the Sables-d'Olonne channel, the sailors of the 10th Vendée Globe shared their emotions a few hours before the start on Sunday. Here are some of their statements:
Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq): “Impatient to leave. The departure is always complicated. I didn't sleep too much. However, there was no stress because the conditions are good. We think of everything, we want to do well then the brain doesn't stop spinning. Title holder, it will stop at 1:02 p.m. I prefer to think about my race.
Samantha Davies (Initiatives Coeur): “I'm so happy to be here today. We've been in the village for three weeks, it's good but it's a long time. I hate to leave, especially in the conditions we're going to have. I'll even be able to go back and take a little nap in my boat after doing some weather.
Guirec Soudée (Freelance.com): “This is the happiest day of my life. You have before you a happy man, who will find his element again. I have sea water running through my veins. C “It's just a joy… until my first technical problem.”
Jérémie Beyou (Charal): “It's a little difficult to leave those you love. As much as yesterday I was happy to leave, I would stay there for a few more days. But once I'm out of the channel, I will be focused on the race.”
Maxime Sorel (V and B – Monbana – Mayenne): “Finally it was almost easier to leave four years ago. There are 40 boats at the start, 20 of which are capable of getting a top 5. The battle is going to be tough “A successful Vendée Globe is a well-told Vendée Globe, so that's what I'm going to try to do.”
Violette Dorange (Devenir): “It's been a lot of emotions since this morning. The goodbyes with loved ones and seeing the other competitors in the channel, that does something to me. I don't realize anything, it's crazy and magical. You have to take all this energy before being alone at sea.
