SAILING – MAITRE COQ AERIAL – 160915
Jérémie Beyou won line honors in the inaugural NY-Vendee Transatlantic Race, sailing 3,460 miles at an average speed of 14.85 knots over 9 days 16 hours 57 minutes and 52 seconds. The skipper checks in with Ocean Masters about his win:
It’s a great feeling to win this race because it’s an IMOCA60 Transat. I’ve already won a double-hander on the Transat Jacques Vabre, but here I was all alone. Also, I‘ve finished here in France, here in the Sables d’Olonne, unlike the anonymity of Puerto Limon (Costa Rica). It was also the objective of the fleet to gauge each other on this Transat: I had to perform well for reassurance before the Vendée Globe. So, it’s really great.
I felt I could afford a smile when I realised that I was able to keep Seb (Josse) at bay. I was up to speed with the best, it was a good sign. The boat felt good, I felt good, I took some good options on the routes. I really felt that it was possible (to win) when we ended up as a trio, and then I realised that it was pretty much done after his gybe yesterday morning towards the north Spain. That didn’t work and I was left out in front. I knew there would still be some soft stuff, but that everyone would suffer.
This win validates lots of things. The most visible work we did is the addition of the foils, but we also did a lot of optimisation for everything to work and so that I feel almost comfortable. This win is super important in itself, because the New York – Vendée is a big ocean race, but it is also important for the Vendée Globe: it’s going to be hard for me to hide now.
I know that there was an abandonment, and some damage [to other boats], but I held out against skippers who are real champions. Alex Thomson is benchmark in the IMOCA class, and I’m not even going to try and sum up Sébastien Josse, who has incredible ability. Maître CoQ has also faced down two big teams in Gitana and Hugo Boss.
Coming back through the channel: The Vendée Globe is the Vendée Globe, but I’ve often come back through this channel, including on a Figaro in the Solo Maître CoQ (race). But I’m happy to go and occupy that place on the pontoon – the No.1 spot. I like that one. I’m happy for myself, for my team, for our partners and the farmers of the Vendée region (who he has spent time with through his sponsor, Maître CoQ).
