François Gabart arrived in New York this Wednesday, May 11, at 12:24:29 a.m. French time (Tuesday, May 10, at 6:24:29 p.m. local time), thus winning The Transat on board of its giant trimaran. Macif will have taken 8 days 08 hours 54 minutes 39 seconds to cover the 3,050 miles of the direct course between Plymouth and New York. But in reality, the young winner âeuros, whose record of achievements continues to grow, will have sailed 4,643 miles with an incredible average speed of 23.11 knots!
To reach New York from Plymouth, François Gabart will have followed a rather atypical route â?" like Thomas Coville, who is expected to arrive soon: Full south from England to pass inside Ushant, come to Cape Finisterre and continue to Madeira on the boulevard of trade winds. This trajectory has also allowed the two biggest boats in the fleet âeuros the Ultimates Macif and Sodebo âeuros to engage in a knife duel.
"It was hard, but I know I had a great race: I'm super happy. I'm tired and happy to be there, I'm very happy. There was one last big obstacle, which was the ridge of high pressure and I think I got through on the right side. It's no mean feat to cross the Atlantic on a boat like this: I'm happy to have done it!
I think it's the hardest thing I've ever done, because you just get better every year. I learn things every year, and in the commitment and investment, I put more and more each time. It's very demanding. You have to go all the way. I've never been so physically involved. I'm burnt out!
I don't know how long it will take me to recover, but it will take a long time. I can't do two races like this in a year. It takes such an investment." declared François Gabart a few hours before his arrival.
François Gabart is getting better and better at controlling his macif trimaran and this victory proves it even more. The man who has won numerous ocean races: Route du Rhum, Vendée Globe, Transat Jacques Vabre, wins with The Transat âeuros the toughest of the solo races âeuros his third victory under the colors of Macif in solo. Only Michel Desjoyeaux had this record!
François Gabart's words after his arrival
My first impressions are very good, because this is my first solo transatlantic race! And going solo is no small thing: it's a bit magical. I'm really happy with what I've done: the boat has extraordinary potential and the sensations on board are incredible. You have to give 100% because there is no choice: on these machines, there are so many things to do! And to discover: It's super excitingâeuros¦
Compared to other races, the hardest moment was when we had to cross the ridge, just this afternoon. Because you never really know how things are going to turn out. These boats go so fast that in a few hours, you can lose thirty miles or so! It goes fast, it goes super fast!
There have been a lot of difficult moments: this is also what we are looking for, but it is good, pleasant, enriching. Physical effort is basically hard, long, demanding and the more you try to do it well, the more it is demanding!
On this race, there are two aspects: the physical one with these endless hours where you turn the cranks, and the mental one to manage a boat that is thirty meters long and going at 35 knots not far from half the timeâeuros¦ But there are magical moments like this morning, on flat seas, before arriving in this windless zone: Macif was at more than 35 knots under pilot, balancing above the water, almost flying! What sliding sensationsâ?¦
I didn't scare myself, but there were times when I felt I didn't need more. I was at the limit.
The battle with Thomas (Coville) was great: we've been working for years to have races with these boats and today, we're back after the Route du Rhum, after the Transat Jacques Vabreâeuros¦ and we see that the match is intense. And what a learning experience! What a boat! There is no choice: you have to push yourself, to go deep inside yourself to find things you didn't think you were capable of. And each time, you push the envelope further: how do you manage to sleep when the boat is going at 35 knots? I didnâ??t know I was capable of itâ?¦
It's still unique to cross the Atlantic so fast on a trimaran! It's not easy, but what a joy even if I wouldn't do it all over again. It's exhaustingâeuros¦ I've never gone this far in terms of fatigue: I'm totally burnt out. I was able to rest a little, but yesterday I didn't know where I was living: I even had hallucinations. And on these boats, you are not allowed to go into a spin. Fortunately, I had already experienced that in a Figaro and that allowed me to get back on track. But the boats go so fast that you don't really have any breaks.
The return in record mode of the solo Atlantic crossing is still on the agenda, but give me some time to recover! I think the stand-by will start in early June. But it's not the same format, the same commitment: on a record, it's shorter, simpler in terms of maneuvers. On The Transat bakerly, we did a lot of maneuvers, gybes, tacks, sail changes, reefing! On a record, the game is different: there is less physical commitment but more stress of high speeds all the timeâ?¦
Photo credits: Lloyd Images
