Young but experienced
After obtaining a diploma in boat design from the highly renowned Southampton Institute, Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty, who had already built his own prototype for the Mini-Transat could have developed his own home-made project, but he preferred to buy a boat from 2005 and gradually work on her to improve her potential for his first Vendée Globe. A descendant from a long line of Paimpol fishermen, known as the Icelanders, he knew well enough that you need to remain humble facing the adversity of the oceans. Whereas his ancestors sailed off to the limits of the North Atlantic, he thought he would be diving into the southern seas. After racing in the major events in the 60-foot IMOCA circuit – Route du Rhum, Transat Jacques Vabre, Fastnet Race…, he was able to tackle this new challenge with confidence.
Jean-Baptiste paid the price for the horrendous conditions in the Bay of Biscay. Forced to turn back, he set off again from Les Sables-d’Olonne six days after the start began a remarkable return to the race.But the youngest participant in the race, aged just 30, was forced to retire shortly after entering the Indian Ocean after suffering a lot of problems with his autopilots. However, this Vendée Globe remains a positive experience for him, which he can now count on for his second attempt at the non-stop solo round the world race.
