The rumours in the press have been confirmed. Jean Le Cam is returning to racing aboard an IMOCA, which is already quite an event. However, the Barcelona World Race which he will be competing in this winter sailing alongside the Spaniard, Bruno Garcia, also marks the beginning of his preparation for the next Vendée Globe.
The French public loves him, because of his way with words. Sailors respect him greatly for his huge talent. Jean Le Cam could have seen his hopes dashed when he lost his VM Matériaux in the last Vendée Globe. Quite the contrary. Once again, he has managed to bounce back with the support this time of the Président brand (the French Lactalis dairy produce Group), and the Breton skipper will be taking part in the Barcelona World Race, the double-handed round the world race, which starts on 31st December in Barcelona. As co-skipper he will have the Spanish sailor Bruno Garcia at his side, and they will be aboard Mike Golding’s Owen Clarke designed boat (the former Ecover 3), which they have chartered for the event.
A fourth round the world voyage ... before a fifth!
Jean Le Cam will be tackling his fourth round the world race. He has already competed in one Whitbread and two Vendée Globe races. Everyone remembers his incredible duel with Vincent Riou and his second place in the 2004-2005 Vendée Globe… then his spectacular rescue off Cape Horn (by the very same Vincent Riou !) in the last edition of the non-stop solo race around the world. We can add to that three wins in the Solitaire du Figaro, where he earned himself the nickname of King Jean, and no one would deny that what we have now is the return of an ocean racing legend to the forefront of the sailing world...
"Getting ready for the next Vendée Globe..."
However, the Breton skipper is looking beyond this Barcelona World Race. Let there be no mistake about it. He freely admits that he intends to be at the start and a serious contender in the next Vendée Globe. He explained: "The Barcelona is very interesting, firstly because it is a race reserved exclusively for IMOCA monohulls. It’s a race in real time for line honours on the same course as the Vendée Globe, with more or less the same sort of line-up. This time, there will be some great sailors taking part: there is the Spanish Armada, but also the new VPLP-Verdier designed boats: Foncia, Virbac-Paprec 3, etc... Of course, what’s really going on in my head is that I’m getting ready for the next Vendée". You cannot be much clearer than that.
