Jérémie Beyou believes he is ready to tackle the Vendée Globe once again. It is true that since he was forced to retire from the race back in 2008, this extraordinarily talented sailor has gained experience on a wide range of boats at the highest level of sailing. He has been involved in the IMOCA 60 circuit, in the Figaro circuit and went aboard the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V. A good way to prepare for his second solo round the world race, which is his long term goal. Although he has at his disposal a solid infrastructure and a team that is up and running, Jérémie nevertheless needs to find partners, who are ready to follow him around the world. We met up with a determined and ambitious skipper.
Why do you want to try again in 2012?
Jérémie Beyou: “During my first attempt in 2008, I had to stop sooner than expected. I couldn’t leave it like that, as once I start something I like to see it through. On top of that I felt at ease in this race and was doing well until I suffered damage. That automatically means you want to give it another go. If I don’t make it to the start in 2012 and have to watch the others on Internet for three months, I know I’m going to be ripping my hair out!”
What does it take in your opinion to win the race?
J.B: “You need to feel at ease when solo sailing, whatever type of boat you are on. That is why the Figaro racers, once they’ve got used to the particular requirements of the 60-foot IMOCA boats, generally do well. Solo sailing is a very special and complicated kind of activity, as there is so much you have to take care of. You can be the best there is in your particular role in a crew, but then find it hard in a race like the Vendée Globe. To be in with a chance of being up there at the front, you really need to be motivated, as this race requires a lot of personal investment. Talent by itself is not enough, if you are not really up for it. Then, you need a certain amount of luck too. I think that the mixture of these three criteria is what influences the result.”
What is your programme for the coming months?
J.B: “I’ll be lining up for the Solitaire du Figaro this summer. The Figaro is a difficult boat, and it can be thankless, but it does mean you get out there with the best and that’s what helps you make progress. It’s a logical thing to do on the way to the Vendée Globe. The goal is to focus on solo racing once again after taking part with a crew on board the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V during the Jules Verne Trophy. Apart from that, I shall of course be continuing to sail in the IMOCA class in order not to lose the reflex.”
Do you think you’ve got what it takes to be up there with the frontrunners in 2012?
J.B: “Whatever race I’m taking part in, my goal is always to fight to be there at the front. The idea is to get a project together to end up in the top five in the next Vendée Globe. But for the moment, I don’t have a boat or sponsor. Contrary to what happened in the last edition, it is going to be a last minute project and I’m going to have to make some careful choices. If I don’t find a sponsor on time or the boat that I need to fulfil my ambition, I won’t be taking part.”
What deadline have you given yourself to set up a project?
J.B: “For the time being, there are still some great boats from the latest generation on the market. I’ve had my eyes on two or three that I think are capable of completing the round the world voyage and finishing in a good position. If they are still available, we can hang on in there for a little while. The idea is to take part in the transatlantic race (which begins in May 2012 - editor’s note). So I’ve given myself the deadline of February 2012.”
In what way is it tricky finding partners at the moment?
J.B: “The Vendée Globe is an attractive proposal for potential partners, but we’re still not feeling the effects of the crisis. Even if things are starting to get better, firms remain cautious and are finding it difficult to commit to the long term. That’s what is particularly complicated for the moment. But there are still some great opportunities for sponsors, even if they only sign up at this late stage. We’re getting close to the start, so now we need to be able to cut costs. That’s why we have been trying to show that our project is solid and ambitious.”
Talking of which, what exactly does your project entail?
J.B: "Our idea is to come up with a whole package. We believe it is down to the racer and his team to take on all of the responsibility for the boat and that this is not a job for the sponsors. We think that once this has been achieved, it will make it easier to get partners to commit and indeed this should encourage joint partnerships to develop. It is of course much harder to attract new sponsors if the first partner already owns the boat. We are looking at including many partners, as this means each individual contribution is that much smaller and this makes the project all the more accessible. This also means too that the media and publicity around the boat could be exceptional.”
It was said you were in line to be the skipper of the Banque Populaire monohull for the next Vendée Globe. How do you feel about Armel Le Cléac’h’s appointment?
J.B: “He’s got a great project and the schedule is ideal. Armel is very lucky to have been chosen. He deserves it, as he’s a very talented sailor. The possibility of being the skipper on this boat gave me a lot of motivation, particularly as I was part of the Banque Populaire team already. But it didn’t work out like that and you need to bounce back, in spite of the disappointment. I’m trying to look on the bright side and tell myself that if they were thinking of me for this project, other sponsors may be interested too. I’m lucky to have partners enabling me to compete in the Figaro circuit, and to have other multihull and IMOCA projects too. This means I can continue to sail at the very highest level.”
So you remain confident…
J.B: "Yes, as we haven’t stopped since the last Vendée Globe. The technical team is still here, we still have all our know-how and we have a huge base in Lorient. So we’re ready to push the button. We just need a first partner to allow us to get a boat and get the ball rolling.”
