Vendée Globe, Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) è secondo
OceanoVelaVendée Globe 7 Febbraio 2009 Zerogradinord 0
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Vendée Globe – Les Sables d’Olonne – Tagliando il traguardo alle 08.41 di questa mattina, spinto da venti attorno ai 20 nodi, Armel Le Cléac’h ha conquistato il secondo posto nella Vendée Globe.
Lo skipper di Brit Air, terzo sin dall’ingresso in Atlantico e salito di un gradino in seguito al ritiro di Veolia Environnement, ha portato a termine la sua fatica in 89 giorni, 9 ore, 39 minuti e 35 secondi. Tempo che tiene già conto dell’abbuono di 11 ore accordato dalla Giuria Internazionale per aver partecipato al recupero di Jean Le Cam, finito scuffiato sul suo VM Materiaux a 200 miglia da Capo Horn.
“Arrivare all’alba e trovare così tanta gente ad aspettarmi è una cosa davvero magica. Mai mi sarei aspettato di arrivare secondo dietro al grande Michel Desjoyeaux – ha commentato Armel Le Cléac’h appena sceso a terra – Devo ancora rendermi conto di quanto sta accadendo. Mi sembra impossibile potermi riposare e se ripenso alla mia gara credo di aver avuto dalla mia la costanza, la capacità e quel pizzico di fortuna che non deve mai mancare”.
In mare restano ancora 9 solitari. Marc Guillemot, terzo su Safran, è ancora a 1607 miglia dall’arrivo, distanza che gli impedirà di far valere a suo vantaggio l’abbuono di 82 ore riconosciutoli per aver assistito Yann Eliés in difficoltà in pieno Oceano Pacifico.
Poco più indietro è Samantha Davies. La skipper di Roxy spera di migliorare il record di pecorrenza al femminile fissato da Ellen Mac Arthur.
BRIT AIR LANDS SECOND IN LES SABLES D’OLONNE SUNSHINE
[Vendée Globe Press Release] Breton race rookie Armel Le Cléac’h crossed the finishing line of the Vendée Globe this morning (Saturday 7th February) at 08.41 GMT, after a net race time of 89 days 9 hours and 39 minutes 35 seconds of racing, taking into account the 11 hours redress given by the International Jury for his participation in the rescue of Jean Le Cam.
“It’s magical! Absolutely incredible seeing all these people here to meet me in the sunshine in Les Sables d’Olonne. I’m very pleased and I could feel the tears welling up, when I saw all those motor boats on the water around Brit’Air. I’m coming to terms with the fact that I’ve finished and can now rest, but finishing second is something I find hard to get my head around. I think there are several factors, which meant I was second. It was due to sailing the race my way. You need a bit of luck to be able to finish, as it’s a hard race. Not very many of us are completing the race. Coming in just behind Michel Desjoyeaux is wonderful! I could not have dreamed of anything better. The last few days were very difficult with very rough conditions in the Bay of Biscay. Huge waves were breaking over the deck. The protective cover was ripped off, the mainsail car broke off the mast, but we managed to finish and on time.”
Brit Air completed the famous non stop solo round the world without assistance race in a 17-22-knot breeze cheered home by a spectator fleet out on the water enjoying the winter sunshine and braving the chill of the early morning.
Le Cléac’h is due to return into the famous canal to a big celebration around midday just as soon as the tide allows. At the age of 31, a newcomer to the Vendée Globe, he takes second place in this 6th edition 5 days 6 hours and 30 minutes behind the winner, Michel Desjoyeaux. His theoretical speed was 11.57 knots. Having sailed 27,233 miles, his real average speed was12.69 knots. His second place in the rankings will not be confirmed until 71 hours have passed to take into account the difference between his 11 hours of redress for going to the help of Jean le Cam and the 82 hours granted to Marc Guillemot for his involvement in the rescue of Yann Eliès.
Armel Le Cléac’h clinched his second with tenacity, patience and prudence, a maturity shown which belies this being his first solo round the world race. Before this race the Breton round the world rookie had never spent more than twenty days in a row at sea, but today not only did he complete his race but took a highly valued clear second place behind the invincible Desjoyeaux. Just 31 when he rounded the Horn for the first time, the sailor from Morlaix finished second in last year’s Transat race when three favourites retired with damage – Riou, Josse and Desjoyeaux – and had also won the Figaro solo event in 2003 and the 2004 Transat AG2R in the past.
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