Vendée Globe

Think back to the 2000 Vendée Globe and how Yves Parlier’s monohull Aquitaine Innovations dismasted in the southern seas. Yves went on to repair his spar all by himself like a genuine Robinson Crusoe on Stewart Island in New Zealand. Once his mast was repaired, Parlier set off again and finished the race a hero. Owned by the Belgian yachtsman Patrick de Radigues and left to rack and ruin on the quayside in Caen for two years, Parlier’s former glory may perhaps be racing again in the next Vendée Globe, with the French sailor from Arcachon, Yannick Bestaven at the helm.

Winner of the 2001 Mini-Transat on board a prototype built by himself, Yannick Bestaven bought the former Aquitaine Innovations from Yves Parlier this winter and wants to take part in the Vendée Globe aboard her in 2008. With the support of Yves Parlier, who remains attached to this boat, her new owner has spent the last few weeks beginning a refit.
In the V1D2 yard, the sanders have been busy. The keel has lost its bumps, and been repainted in white. It has taken a lot of elbow grease and Yannick is hopeful: «Following these three weeks of work on her the boat looks stylish again. Her condition is improving with each passing day, which really cheers us up no end. We have every reason to believe that the injured “bluebird” will soon be back in the water on her way to the port of La Rochelle around the fifteenth of August, where she will finish her convalescence. After that, she will be in top form to face up to any sea.»

Aquitaine Innovations’ achievements:
- June: dismasted in the English Transat whilst in the lead

- November 96 : Vendée Globe, Yves Parlier had to stop in Australia following damage to the rudder, and he finished outside of the official race.

- 1997: Transat Jacques Vabre with Eric Tabarly

- 1998: Win in the Gold Race New York – San Francisco
Injured in a hang-gliding accident, Yves Parlier handed her over to Thomas Coville, who went on to win the Route du Rhum

- 1999: Win in the Europe Race with Ellen MacArthur and Yannick Bestaven on board
6th in the Transat Jacques Vabre two handed race with Ellen MacArthur

- 2000: Dismasted in the English Transat whilst in the lead
Vendée Globe : dismasted once again. Yves Parlier went on to repair the spar on Stewart Island in New Zealand and completed the race.

- 2002: The boat was sold to the Belgian yachtsman, Patrick de Radigues, who finished third in the first stage of Around Alone before her sponsor asked him to take part in the Route du Rhum, which he finished in sixth place.

- 2003 8th place in the Calais 1000 Miles. The boat has not sailed since then.

Previous news items :