Jean-Pierre Dick is on his final day of sailing aboard his new 60-foot monohull after covering some 12,000 miles (22,200 km) or in other words sailing halfway around the world since he left Auckland 79 days ago. Virbac-Paprec 3 is due to arrive in Lorient tomorrow (Thursday 5th August) some time after noon local time, and will come alongside the pontoons in the Keroman submarine base. This long voyage will have enabled Virbac-Paprec 3 to be tested in the southern ocean and in the Atlantic and qualify for the two major races scheduled for the end of the year: the Barcelona World Race and the Route du Rhum.

Jean-Pierre Dick: « Today Wednesday 4th August, it was grey and dull at daybreak. Alone in the Atlantic, you start to wonder sometimes what on Earth you’re doing in this bit of black carbon. When you go outside, you start to understand. A few minutes under the dome and you can see just how the boat cuts through the water with spray flying up over the coach roof. When you’ve got some air, it’s all the more enjoyable, with the boat heeled over and gliding along in the mist at more than 20 knots with peak speeds of 23.5 knots. Sheer enjoyment!”

On Saturday 31st July at 0132 hrs and 14 secs (local time), Armel Le Cléac’h crossed the finishing line set up 2 miles outside of Gijon harbour (Spain). The skipper of Brit Air took 3 days 11 hours 14 minutes and 32 seconds to sail the 515 miles of this first leg between Le Havre and Gijón. This was his ninth Solitaire and his third leg win since he made his debut in the event in 2000.

After setting out from Panama on 13th July, Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron reached Newport Rhode Island on 23rd July. The two sailors aboard Virbac-Paprec 3 have thus qualified for the Barcelona World Race. In the forthcoming days, Jean-Pierre Dick will be setting off again, this time alone to cross the Atlantic to Lorient, the end of the voyage halfway around the world, which since mid May has been used as part of the training programme on board Virbac-Paprec 3.

Pepe Ribes: "We’re quite happy with the final rankings. At the start of the race, we hadn’t even hoped of finsihing so high. Compared to last summer, when we did the Round Europe race, we’ve certainly gained in terms of speed. As long as we’re not sailing upwind, we remain competitive. We’re quite pleased about what the boat was able to do.”

Vincent Riou : "This was really a strange race. We set off in every direction from Palma and thought there would be some huge gaps. In the end, we all finished together with a great final run over the last thirty miles with a lot of close contact sailing and strategic choices. We’re pleased to have won a second leg ahead of Safran, because they were sailing so well that it was far from easy to get ahead. We have made progress throughout the race, but we saw too that all the teams made giant leaps. The Spanish are up there now: now they have the potential to win races, even if that wasn’t the case this time around. We’re pleased to see how this class is becoming international and that promises a lot for the years to come."

"We can’t feel disappointed about this final leg. There’s not the hint of feeling depressed, as we really fought hard. This was hotly contested right up to the finishing line that was so difficult to reach.At certain points we really thought we could win, while at other times we thought we would finish fifth. From Palma to Palamos, we really gave it our all and were pleased with our choices. Then, in light airs, we suffered in comparison to PRB, with her tunny rig, as she can carry more headsail than us. Looking at this leg, we really thought Iker and Xabi were going to win."