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Die Skipper des Vendee Globe 2000/2001
Übersicht
Michel Desjoyeaux - 1.Platz
website : http://www.michel-desjoyeaux.com/
Michel Desjoyeaux, referred to as Mich Desj but nicknamed 'The
Professor', was born in 1965 and is married with 3 children. His
father was one of the founders of the famous Glénan sailing
school and ran a boatyard for the indextenance and winter
storage of sailboats, introducing Mich Desj to sailing at a very early age.
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Desjoyeaux has spent a lifetime preparing to be a professional sailor. After
obtaining his A-Levels, Michel carried out his Military Service at the Joinville
battalion, improved his knowledge of weather forecasting at Hyères and
took a beginner's course in computer studies. When he was eighteen, he
sailed on 'Pen-Duick VI' following the Figaro Solo race. As a crewman he
proved himself more than ready and, having won Eric Tabarly's confidence,
was hired for the Whitbread Round the World race as crew on 'Côte d'Or'
(1985-1986).
The same year, he took part in the Tour de l'Europe with Philippe Jeantot
on 'Crédit Agricole' and in 1990, he co-skippered with Jean Maurel in the
Twostar, which they won. Michel raced in Formula 40 regattas, took part in
the Tour Voile and embarked on an annual adventure in the renowned
'Solitaire du Figaro' race. In 1992, after skippering 'Elf' for two years, he
won the 'Solitaire du Figaro' and followed that up with victory (with Jacques
Caraes on 'Sill Plein Fruit-France 3 Ouest'), in the AG2R Transatlantic race.
In the meantime, he pioneered the swing keel, which is now standard on
racing monohulls. Michel Desjoyeaux then set off to sea again, taking part
in the Whitbread on 'La Poste' (1993), and then joining Alain Thébault on
his flying boat 'L'Hydroptère'. He has since spent well over a year preparing
for the Vendée Globe.
Michel Desjoyeaux finished 7th in the 2000 Europe 1 New Man STAR, but
was hampered by a dismasting on his Open 60, PRB, just 2 weeks before
the start of the race, and said he was in more of a 'delivery' mode, rather
than flat out racing. He wasn't keen to push the boat too hard, as it was his
qualifying sail for the 2000 Vendée Globe.
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