[February 10, 2001 - 9:53:53 PM]
Interview with Michel Desjoyeaux facing the crowd in Les
Sables d’Olonne: "Good Evening Sables d’Olonne!"
"A bit anxious? Noo! I really never knew what it would be like.
This has been a great moment for me, I hope for you all too!
This evening, everyone here really knows how to get a party
going! I was following the countdown to my arrival for a few
hours on my computer on board. I was looking for the buoy
and just as if I was in a round the can regatta race I still had
to cross the line so I didn’t have to do it twice. We knew we
could do this in less than 100 days with these boats.
Christophe Auguin, four years ago, was sufficiently ahead at
Cape Horn to slow the pace a bit. For us, the race in the
Atlantic was wild the whole time. And then managing the boat
through the Southern Ocean. I felt the change rounding Cape
Horn, all the manoeuvres became easier to do. The Southern
Ocean was tough but just three days ago it was equally hard
upwind nearer to home as well. Thanks to my sponsor and
Isabelle Autissier, who had the confidence in me to take the
helm of PRB. An amazing team in competence and human
character, 80% of this race was won before the start. I just had
to finish off the other 20%, the boat was well prepared and
the skipper had some fortune on his side too.
I’ve spent 93 days knowing that I shall get off this boat and
explain what I did out there. It’s not hard for me to get off the
boat as I’m used to racing.
Ellen for me is a great mystery. She is ten years younger than
me and she could have beaten me. She came so close to me
in the Saint Helen anticyclone, and she came back on me in
the Doldrums and the Azores high. She has displayed a great
deal of courage and determination and has threatened me
right until the end.
Professionally, it’s a big moment in my career. The last
turning point for me like this was the Mini Transat. If today
80% of the Open 60’s have a swing keel it’s because I won
the second leg of the Mini with this system.
You can’t come back unchanged after three months at sea.
I’ve learned a lot about myself and what I do. I was never
afraid for myself, only for the boat! Fear of breaking the mast!
I’ve become an ‘earthling’ again and will reindex so until the
next time I step on a boat!
I want to thank all the guys who have come here to welcome
me tonight and I hope you will do the same for all the other
skippers right to the last as the last one deserves the most
honour for being at sea the longest!"
[February 10, 2001 - 8:30:40 PM]
Michel Desjoyeaux, skipper of the Open 60 ‘PRB’, crossed the
line at 2008hrs and 32 seconds UTC of the 4th edition of the
Vendée Globe single-handed, non-stop, around the world
yacht race.
This means that he completed the race in 93 days 3 hours 57
mins and 32 seconds. He smashed Christophe Auguin’s record
by 12 days 16 hours and 33 minutes 51 seconds.
[February 10, 2001 - 7:14:33 PM]
Dominique Wavre admires and congratulates Michel
Desjoyeaux on his performance
"From the conception to the preparation of his boat he hasn’t
put a foot wrong, his race was faultless. His project managed
seamlessly from start to finish, and he represents a great
French sailing talent, a brilliant navigator and I man whom I
admire greatly."
"It’s weird to think of someone about to arrive, and it really
resolves my desire to finish. You can see Les Sables d’Olonne
in your mind, imagining the other skippers even on land
again, all really vivid in your head but you’re not there yet
yourself. Psychologically, it’s harder for those behind I think."
Source: Bleue Salée
[February 10, 2001 - 6:40:45 PM]
Ellen MacArthur (Kingfisher) send in her daily report from this
morning via email: "Quite a tiring night, managed to keep the
gennaker up all night so the speed has been good. Until a few
hours ago the wind direction was very good, and we were
making the course to Les Sables, which is what makes me
happy right now! Unfortunately since then its switched more to
the south west, so although I’m sailing at a good speed of 13
to 15 knots, I’m making only 11 towards the finish line. Its
quite nerve-wracking with the gennaker up, and I’m constantly
on edge watching the boat, and keep her under control. I look
at the repair on the gennaker and pray...I’m actually surprised
that it has lasted this long now, it doesn’t look too pretty
though. ’North Sails, born to survive’ - thats what I wrote on it
before re-hoisting it after the repair 3 weeks ago!
"Seen quite a few more ships, and talked to one last night to
check he could see me on radar - which luckily he could! He
didn’t speak much English, so we didn’t get too far!
"Its grey and quite cold, but to be honest since the Southern
Ocean I haven’t really felt the cold. Everything is relative out
here.
"I’m certainly envious of Mich getting in today - I think as
soon one boat finishes there is this horrible feeling for all of
us that there is someone in on land, enjoying the comfort and
dry, and we’re still out here. But my congratulations to Mich,
he’s sailed a great race, and I’m very happy that we’ve been
able to race against each other right up to near the finish
line... Bravo Mich and the shore team of PRB.
"I had the weirdest dream last night - we were all doing the
Vendee Globe on bicycles! Don’t ask me what I’m doing next
after this race..."
Source: Kingfisher Challenges
February 10, 2001 - 5:41:47 PM]
Michel Desjoyeaux (PRB) is 27 miles from the finish line,
going at 12 knots. His latest ETA is 2030hrs local time.
[February 10, 2001 - 3:23:07 PM]
You could own your own CD-Rom (PC) with photos, radio chat,
the daily 3D positions, the analyses, video cuts, and all the
news and background from the Vendée Globe 2000/1. If you
are interested then it will cost you 120 FF (@£12) and you can
email claire@dunet.com until 1st March to take up this offer.
From the 20th February Duran will confirm the uncut CD-Rom
edition for the Vendée Globe!
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