Guillemot on track for the Vendée Globe

Reconnaissance mission
He has just sailed 1500 miles (2778 km) alone on board Safran, as required by the Vendée Globe race organisers, following the changes made to the appendages on his boat. «We sailed with a crew down to Vigo. Then, I set sail alone to head west, before going back down to Spain and then climbing back up to la Trinité-sur-Mer,» explained Marc Guillemot. He added: «There was quite a bit of wind with a deep low passing over the Bay of Biscay, the same one that in fact led the organisers of the Figaro single-handed event to shorten the course for the final leg of the race. It was a very interesting trip in conditions and in a point of sail that I hadn’t yet really tested. You always learn a lot when you are sailing alone on board such a boat. Each mile you sail teaches you a little bit more.»

Rough conditions for the qualifier
A strong 28-30 knot south-westerly, gusting to 45 knots on heavy seas for the voyage back up the Bay of Biscay. Ideal for Safran and her skipper to get a taste of what lies ahead, when they make their way around the world. «Everything went very well, confirmed Marc. I wasn’t trying to put on any speed. It was above all a way for me to find my feet and check out the new keel and daggerboards that were fitted this summer. From that point of view, I’m very pleased. Everything worked well, even if there are still a lot of things to do, such as adjusting the automatic pilot for example… which faces the difficult task of replacing me at the helm!» he joked.

The Breton skipper is pleased to have completed this compulsory qualifying passage, marking an end to the long preparation phase. With the qualification under his belt, Marc Guillemot can now look ahead quite serenely: «As the technical team are on holiday, I’m going to treat myself to a few days alone in the yard!» A nice way of saying that in between physical preparation and weather training, he is focussing on what is coming up. «For the two months between now and the all-important appointment in Les Sables, my goal is to sail as much as possible. That seems to me to be vital in establishing an understanding of the boat and preparing calmly and efficiently for the race. I’ll be setting sail a bit more often in Quiberon Bay and out into the Bay of Biscay.» He has a busy schedule with the start drawing ever nearer. By the 18th October, the grey and orange monohull is due in Les Sables d’Olonne to take part in three weeks of festivities at the Village leading up to the start.


Yannick Bestaven on a quest for new energy sources
With three months to go before the Vendée Globe, Yannick Bestaven’s team has also been somewhat troubled by the announcement from Cervin-Enr that they are bringing the partnership with the “Energy around the World” project to an end. A decision taken essentially because of the economic conditions that face the firm, and in now way a reflection on the quality of Yannick Bestaven and his team’s project, as they remain determined to be there at the start of the Vendée Globe on 9th November.
Those who have followed Yannick Bestaven know full well that the yachtsman does not launch himself into projects without careful consideration. From his win in the Mini-Transat to the setting up of his Vendée Globe project, Yannick has always adopted a measured approach in managing his projects. That is how the “Energy around the World” team was established with the aim of showing that it is possible to race around the world, while remaining self-sufficient from an energy perspective. With the support of Cervin Enr, the team was thus able to give the former Aquitaine Innovations, Yves Parlier’s old boat, a complete overhaul and take part in four transatlantic races. It is therefore all that much harder for the team that set up a unique project, which was intelligent, while being so very different.

A great opportunity for someone…
However, Yannick is not someone, who is easily beaten by such adversity: Cervin Enr remains a technical support partner and above all, the yachtsman has stated once again that he will be there at the start of the Vendée Globe. Now, with his team, he must find a new partner to take over and to allow him to see his adventure through. A great opportunity for a firm, who would like to join in with this exemplary project, with its fine ethical values and which will be able to take advantage of all the work that has already been done by the “Energy around the World” team.