Vendée Globe

Winner of the 2004-2005 Vendée Globe, the skipper of PRB is setting sail again this time as the title-holder. Inside his orange Farr-designed boat, between two glances at his computer screen, where he is keeping an eye on a huge low-pressure area due to arrive on 9th November, Vincent answered some of our questions. The least you can say is that he is tackling this second race without any concerns.

How are you feeling with ten days to go before the start?

«I'm just in a hurry now to get going. Like everyone else, I'm on stand-by simply waiting. The ten days leading up the race are not the greatest fun in this event… Today, with the boat being ready, I just want to get out there sailing. The project has been underway for three and a half years and the time comes, when you need to sail.»

Have the unfortunate incidents of the past few years left their mark?

«I feel confident about setting sail on PRB. I haven't had any worries preparing my boat, apart from some technical difficulties, things that can happen in any type of race at any time to anyone. You just have to accept these things. There is no miracle solution to these problems. There's no point in getting yourself in a state about it. The best thing is to keep going to be ready for the race in a week.»

Is it hard being referred to all the time as the title-holder?

«No, it isn't really hard. What is done is done. I'm not here to talk about or even think about the 2004-2005 Vendée Globe, but to do the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe. This is a new race, a new adventure. Things are very different and it would be a mistake to think about it in the same way as four years ago. The boats have changed, and the line-up means that the level is much higher. Everyone is much more experienced. Everyone has more experience. Things are different.»

Given these changes, can we look forward to a faster pace?

«The pace will be normal. We're still single-handed sailors with two arms, two legs and a head. I can't see how they will be going faster than usual. We've already had solo races with such a line-up and they haven't been that different from what we have seen before, so we're not going to see a revolution in that area. However, the strategic play will be more complicated, as there will be more people out on the water.»

You seem relaxed and confident. Is it just a façade?

«I try not to think too much about it, and in any case there's not a lot to think about. here's just a race to do, a sailing race. We're well equipped to see some great achievements. We need to remain focused and try to do our job well and if that happens, everything should go well. In this type of event, and in general in our sport, if we ask ourselves too many questions, it is more harmful than anything else. I'm lucky to have experience of the Vendée Globe, so, I know more or less what lies ahead. I can't see any reason why I should be worried, so I'm quite relaxed about it. I took the decision myself to go for it and I'm pleased to be going racing. Now it's just a question of racing.»

What will you be doing during the last ten days before the race?

«I'll be grabbing some rest, studying the weather, working with my sponsors, as I have things to do with them every day… It's a good daily routine, which has been in place now for a fortnight, so there's no need to change things before the start.»

Interview with C.El 

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