At the Grand Pavois Boat Show, which is currently taking place in La Rochelle, the Franco-Italian skipper, Alessandro Di Benedetto, declared that he is launching a project to take part in the 2012 Vendée Globe. He became famous this summer, when he completed a 268-day single-handed round the world voyage aboard a 6.50 mini and now feels he has what it takes to make the leap to the IMOCA class. We met up with this skipper, who is used to extreme voyages.
Alessandro, why did you decide to take part in the 2012 Vendée Globe?
After my round the world voyage, I was fortunate enough to meet up with some skippers, who have already raced in the Vendée Globe. With my team, we simply said, “Why don’t we try that?” Setting sail in the Vendée Globe is a dream. It’s a race where the standard is exceptionally high and I greatly admire those, who take part in it. In my opinion, they are the world’s best sailors. So this is another challenge for me on the finest course that exists.
Apart from the course being the same, are there any other points in common between your voyage aboard a 6.50 mini and the Vendée Globe?
They’re similar in many ways as in both cases we have to sail in an extremely hostile environment. But apart from that, they are two completely different adventures. The boats are not at all the same. And the Vendée Globe implies taking additional risks, as it takes place within the context of a race. I did my round the world voyage in a much smaller boat, but I didn’t have any time pressure on me.
What were your first impressions sailing on an IMOCA?
I was invited aboard AKENA Vérandas just after my round the world voyage in the Mini. I immediately felt how great it was. The IMOCA boats are truly magical, a bit like windsurfing boards measuring 18 metres in length! I am fascinated by the power and acceleration of these boats. But they are also very demanding and require a lot of hard work. You need to be really well organised and prepared.
What is your schedule for the next few months?
I shall be spending all my time on an IMOCA. I intend to give it my all and sail in every imaginable condition to get to grips with this boat. Even if these training sessions don’t take place aboard the boat I’ll be sailing on in the end. At the same time, I’m giving myself a year to look for financial and technical sponsors. So with my team we’re just finishing off a presentation pack and will then start to distribute it. I really want to set up a serious project. If in a year from now, I’m pleased with the results, I shall go for it. After that, if you’re talking about races, there is nothing planned for the moment. But that’s something we’re going to have to sort out with the sponsor, once we find them. However, you can be certain of one thing. I’m going to be sailing over and over again.
So on what boat are we likely to see Alessandro di Benedetto in 2012?
The aim is to keep within a reasonable budget. So I think it’s likely to be a second-hand boat, probably one of those that took part in the last Vendée Globe.
