A legendary visitor
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There was definitely an emotional moment on this Monday afternoon at the Port Olona guest pontoons in Les Sables d’Olonne. Legendary sailor Sir Robin Knox Johnston arrived at the helm of his faithful and exceptional 32-foot ketch Suhaili, the one with which he was the first to single-handedly sail aroud the world without assistance in 312 days.
© Christophe FavreauThe British was welcomed by another great sailor, an adventurer of the oceans like him, the voluble French-Italian skipper Alessandro Di Benedetto, holder of the circumnavigation record on a 6.5 meters boat in 268 days. “It’s the first time I meet him and it’s very moving for me”, said the Team Plastique skipper. “We have exchanged a lot by emails after my record. I was honoured to have his word for my book saying that a single-handed circumnavigation is the most difficult thing a sailor can do. But doing it on such a small boat, with so many difficulties, it’s an incredible achieveement! I welcomed him at the end of the channel, it was a fantastic moment”.
The two exceptional skippers will be participating in the legendary boat show on the Sables d’Olonne channel on November 2nd at 3.30PM. A must-see event!
Christophe FAVREAU
