Le Rochelais reminded us, “our boat is prepared for the Vendée Globe” like an enduring marathon runner and not a rider of 800 or 1,500 meters as demanded by Le Rhum. And it’s like a trial run for the next Vendée that Bestaven will start on Sunday, in difficult conditions.
Ready to go. “72 hours from the start, I feel…ready to go! (smile), in great shape. I’m not in my bubble yet, not enough. We had a lot of meetings, interviews, visits on board, but that’s good. The preparation was short, but I have full confidence in my team, and I try to take some time for myself.
I have half-days reserved for me, they allow me to do zen, cool things, to escape the pressure, like going for a walk, going to a restaurant. Otherwise I go to the boat, I study the weather, we know that the starting conditions will be very difficult. »
Laurent Theillet/SOUTHWEST
Rugged weather. “Obviously, with a boat launched only at the end of August, I would have preferred to set off with little wind, on calm seas and quickly hit the trade winds. Well, it won’t be like that. I take it as a trial run for the next races and in particular the Vendée Globe, a preparation.
We’re going to have 50 knots of wind, troughs of 7 metres, nobody likes going into battle. Especially upwind, at the limit I prefer to know that downwind (Editor’s note; downwind) in the South Seas. But sailors love adrenaline, they like getting out of their comfort zone and there, for sure, we’ll be well out for a week, with two or three fronts to go. »
Laurent Theillet/SOUTHWEST
New boats and innovations. “We are not here to innovate or create as much as others. For several reasons, we used the molds of a boat launched in 2020, we insist on reliability. Our team has a workforce of 12 people, we are at the “medium plus” level, with a small design office. Our boat is among the fastest of the Imocas. Others will perhaps invent and create elements that will allow them to go faster, but I’m still in the spirit of sailing a lot, knowing my boat well, making it as reliable as possible.
We saw a competing boat (Editor’s note: “Charal”) with tighter rudders, it’s daring. It’s good to try, I sailed with a friend, Yves Parlier, who invented the wing masts that we all have today. But don’t be mistaken, because there are three years left before the next Vendée Globe. »
A favors? “In principle, I do not designate a favorite in the category where I race, I only have competitors (smile). »
