Oceanracing 2007 - Transat Jaques Vabre 2007

Transat Jaques Vabre 2007
von Le Havre nach Bahia - Start 3. November 2007
www.jacques-vabre.com - www.transatbtob.com - Übersicht

The 20/11/2007

Line honours for Foncia: words from the co-skippers at the finish in Brazil

At 15h37and 05 sec (GMT), Michel Desjoyeaux and Emmanuel Le Borgne took victory in the 8th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre (60’ monohull category) after 17d 02h37sec of fiercely contested racing. It is the first victory for the two men on this course and also the first big win for the 60 footer, Foncia, a year from the Vendée Globe. This performance is all the more deserving, given that the tandem weren't routed. This was a deliberate choice, which sometimes caused them to break out in a cold sweat. But it was a choice which they accepted… in the guise of training for the big single-handed loop of the world. The two skippers arrived in Bahia in great shape, despite the stress of the last few hours where they saw Safran homing in on their stern at a rapid rate… Michel Desjoyeaux, about the difficulty of the race “I’ve finished a transatlantic a lot more tired than this. Monohulls are less stressful than the multihulls. We sailed most of the course in downwind conditions. Out of 17 days, we sailed at least 13 of them under spinnaker! We took it in turns on deck every hour and a half, which certainly enabled us to study the weather, but also to rest properly. Though the race was a bitter one, it wasn't as a result of the sailing conditions. What wore us down was the permanent concentration we had to have; but at the end of the day it was our efficiency which set us apart from our adversaries.” Emmanuel Le Borgne… the key moments “There were two races within the one race: before and after the Canaries. The fleet had a restart around the Canaries and a lot more options emerged in the second part of the course. This enabled us to get back in contact as we chose the right strategy at the approach to the doldrums: we had more of a W'ly separation than our competitors. We also tried to do things simply. We accepted our tactical choices right the way to the end, whilst trying to get the boat making the maximum amount of headway. We never assumed that anything was done and over with and we were working flat out doing what we know best, which is sailing.”

Michel Desjoyeaux… winners without routing
“It is a fine victory in what was a real race, since it was hotly contested right the way along. It was a massive battle with our fellow competitors on a permanent basis. I wanted to do it without routing (outside weather assistance), even though it was authorised. I’d prefer not to win it rather than be routed. And here, I scored the double! It’s also a victory for the whole team, for the sponsors who trusted in me and finally for the boat. I wasn’t really worried as far as Foncia was concerned, but now, one year before the Vendée Globe, it’s good quite frankly. I’ve learnt a few little things about the boat and I know that I’m going to have to modify the ergonomics this winter, to make it more practical in solo configuration”.

Michel Desjoyeaux und Emmanuel Le Borgne
Foto: © Yvan Zedda

Second place for Safran
After 17 days 3 hours and 55 seconds in Atlantic ocean, Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier crossed the finish line of the Transat Jacques Vabre. They arrived at 17h 31'55" (french time), 54 minutes and 55 seconds after Foncia. Their average speed is 10,55 knots. Safran is second in the Imoca class.

Third place for Cheminées Poujoulat
After 17 days, 4 hours, 17 minutes and 25 seconds at the average speed of 10,53 knots, Bernard Stamm and Tanguy Cariou crossed the finish line of the Transat Jacques Vabre at 18h 17' 25" (french time). They arrived only 1 hour 40 minutes ans 20 seconds after Foncia.