Leader since passing Cape Horn, Yoann Richomme, the untenable rookie of this Vendée Globe, displays a regularity and combativeness worthy of his good years on the Figaro circuit. Accompanied by Charlie Dalin, the two sailors engage in a duel which promises to be thrilling until the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne. We spoke with the skipper about Paprec Arkéa to find out a little more…
Voile Magazine: Hello Yoann, how are you? Is your IMOCA holding up after 46 days of racing?
Yoann Richomme : “Well listen, everything is going well. There, we came out of 24 hours a little calm as well so it was cool because it allowed me to clean up the guy and the boat but otherwise nothing special to report. Nothing handicapping in any case even if it’s starting to wear a little everywhere… I’ve had a good run on the machine but let’s say that it’s still at 100% of its potential. »
Voile Magazine: “And you, how do you feel physically? Aren’t you too tired as you begin your journey up the Atlantic?
Yoann Richomme: “No, no, it’s really okay. There were phases where I still gave well, particularly after Cape Horn and a bit during the current weather transition. No choice, I had to and must keep a good speed with Charlie in my wake. I’m a little vigilant about my level of rest, but here we’re going to have a big reach for two days around the depression that presents itself. So, we’ll still be able to rest a little there before tackling the less easy section off the coast of Rio. Now, I have the impression that it’s going to be complicated…”
Voile Magazine: Has your Koch-Finot/Conq plan met all your hopes so far?
Yoann Richomme: “Oh yeah, definitely, yeah, I love it. It’s a great boat, really. It’s super complete, it’s fun to navigate. Being able to look outside all the time, in the long run, is really nice. I really feel like I’m sailing like I’m outside, especially now with the nice weather. It’s a big, big plus, I think. Morally, I think it must have a positive impact. »
Voile Magazine: Will this first Cape Horn solo be a crazy memory?
Yoann Richomme: “Yeah well listen, it was a great time, I was still spoiled to be able to pass the Horn in good weather. Frankly, I would have stopped, I admit. These are still countries that make me a little “excited” in terms of travel. I might come back there one day on a cruise, who knows? »
Voile Magazine: And the competition with Charlie, how do you experience it? Is it good spirits or is it stressful?
Yoann Richomme: “Yeah, it’s good spirits, afterward we’re going to fight until the end… It’s sure to be a great duel, it could last a long time, it could last until the end. I try not to worry too much about it and above all to go my own way. In the rankings, one thing is going to be one in front, one thing is going to be the other, it’s possible that it changes often and I don’t know where and when the decisive moment will be.
I think that the upcoming transition part at Rio level will be rather to his advantage in terms of boat characteristics. That’s it, we’ll have to see but maybe in the end, if we do the VMG downhill in strong winds after the Azores, it will be more up my alley. There are lots of hypotheses but I try not to think about that too much and then I tell myself that already coming second I will be happy too, I would have had a great Vendée Globe. After that doesn’t stop me and my boat from fighting to try to do better than second…”
In the standings, one thing is going to be one in front, one thing is going to be the other, it’s possible that it changes often and I don’t know where and when the decisive moment will be.
Voile Magazine: When do you think you can be in Les Sables?
Yoann Richomme: “Wait, I’ll do a little rough estimate. If we say the 7th at the equator, that makes January 19th, because that would be 12 days between the equator and Les Sables, but the reference time is 18 days. We’re going to say that the earliest it will be between January 15 and 18, I imagine. The 15th seems a little early to me, so I would bet on January 18th! »
Voile Magazine: You must be starting to be in a hurry to arrive, to end this high-intensity marathon, right?
Yoann Richomme: “I am well in my race and I am not here counting the days. But yes, clearly, the less it lasts the happier I will be, because that’s the logic of the race. And then there’s a nice little thing, a record match too, you see. Well, Armel’s record is going to be beaten, that’s almost not the point. On the other hand, how long will remain the unanswered question until the finish line. »
Voile Magazine: And was spending Christmas alone a special moment for you?
Yoann Richomme: » I still had a bit of a moral blow to celebrate this moment alone. Afterwards, I got lots of nice gifts with some good messages in there, it was perfect. What was cool was that the weather calmed down just then. Before we were on a somewhat committed reach, so I couldn’t see myself opening the presents. I said to myself; oh well I’ll do that tomorrow, then all of a sudden it softened a lot so I did it; Well, come on, here we go, we’re going to open it all up…”
Voile Magazine: If you could give me a good and a bad memory of your sailing in the South Seas, what would you think of?
Yoann Richomme: “Luckily I had a lot of good times because I still had easy South Seas. I loved the start of the Indian Ocean, we found ourselves downwind in 15 knots, it was cold, but there were birds around, it was truly magical. I am also thinking of my navigation within sight of Auckland Island and Cape Horn of course!
So, the bad memory, the least pleasant day, was north of the depression that I tried to avoid by the north, where the sea was still very disgusting. It was a tough day, but I want to tell you, almost a standard southern day normally. »
