An emblematic figure
Having taken part twice, Bertrand de Broc has written a fine chapter in the history of the Vendée Globe. He was the man who sewed his own tongue back together in the Indian Ocean in the 1992-93 race. A famous episode, which revealed the determination of the Breton skipper. He was to continue the race, but was forced to head for New Zealand because of the threat of losing the keel from his monohull. His first attempt at the non-stop solo round the world race would end there.
As he prepared for the 1996-1997 Vendée Globe, Bertrand de Broc set up an unusual project offering to write the names of individuals that supported him on the hull of his boat. The operation “Your name around the world” was very successful: more than 6000 people and a hundred companies backed his project allowing him to take part. Eliminated from the race because of a stopover in Ushuaia, Bertrand capsized on the eve of his arrival in Les Sables-d’Olonne, after 117 days of sea.
A professional skipper for more than 25 years, he has been involved in all the major ocean races, Bertrand De Broc has sailed around the oceans on one or more hulls and achieved a great list of successes. It is therefore another emblematic figure of French sailing, who would like to set sail again in the Vendée Globe in 2012 and write another chapter in the history of round the world sailing.
