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8.Vendee Globe 2016/17
Start Les Sables d'Olonne 06/11/16
www.vendeeglobe.org/en - Übersicht
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Monday 31 October 2016, 19h19
News > Three questions for Stéphane Le Diraison
Three questions for Stéphane Le Diraison
Methodical and pragmatic, Stéphane Le Diraison has come a long way to line up at the start of this Vendée Globe, the race he has been dreaming about. A racer, who has a lot of experience solo (this is his tenth boat), Stéphane has acquired a lot of know-how over the years particularly racing in the Mini circuit and in Class40. His goal is to finish the race in under 90 days.
The Jackal and the British Lion
Compagnie du Lit - Boulogne Billancourt, skipper Stephane Le Diraison (FRA), arrived at pontoon in Port Olona for the start of the Vendee Globe 2016, expected november 6th, solo circumnavigation race, in Les Sables d'Olonne on october 13th, 2016 - Photo O
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www.vendeeglobe.org
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After your experiences racing on other boats, is competing in the round the world race the logical next step for you?
“Yes, the Vendée Globe is the pinnacle. My passion for ocean racing has brought me here. I’ve been thinking about this race for 25 years. It’s not very often that you get to see your childhood dreams come true. I didn’t want to get too far ahead of myself and jump straight into the world’s most difficult solo race. I wanted to clock up the miles in other events, including in the North Atlantic in winter. I started to sail when I was 15 with a boat I did up myself. Then I sold her and did another one up and so on…I gradually made my way up until I got this great IMOCA (a Finot-Conq design from 2007, the former Hugo Boss), which is my tenth boat.”
Does it worry you setting off alone around the world fro three months?
“It’s true there is some apprehension. This is my first time around the world, so there is something unknown about this race. I don’t know how I’ll feel living alone for three months. Usually, I feel fine when sailing solo. My longest sail so far only lasted 26 days. I would have liked it to last longer. I felt a bit like a marathon runner, who is able to go the distance.”
© Adrien François
What are your ambitions in this race?
“I want to complete the race in under 90 days. That seems to be possible given my experience and my boat’s potential. When I launched my project, I didn’t want to get an older boat. I’m too much of a competitor for that. I’m not interested in sailing around the world in 150 days; I like racing against others. That’s what motivates me, so I’ll be battling it out with the other boats from the 2008 generation, some of which will be sailed by top skippers. You never know what will happen in the Vendée Globe and I’ll be seizing any opportunity I get.”
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