After two attempts in 2008 and 2012, Jeremie Beyou has just finished his third Vendée Globe on Monday 23rd January 2017 at 19 hours 40 minutes and 40 seconds. It took him 78 days 6 hours and 38 minutes. In spite of all the technical problems he encountered, he showed his resistance and pugnacity to complete the loop. A fine performance for this three-time winner of the Solitaire du Figaro (2005, 2011 and 2014), whose course has been marked by multiple difficulties.
Dropped shortly after the start by two of his automatic pilots, then suffering a breakdown of the Fleet antennas which deprived him of his means of communication and therefore of weather information, Jérémie Beyou quickly dived into his resources to hold on to the leading group.
The trouble doesn't stop there: "When my mainsail hook broke, I almost gave up. It was dark and I thought I couldn't fix it. Afterwards, I don't know where I got it, but I managed to do it. Every clean maneuver is a great victory, you have to be satisfied with that."
On 27 December 2016, he rounded his first Cape Horn, "I've taken many round the world starts, between the Vendée Globe, the Jules Verne Trophy and the Barcelona World Race, each time I haven't managed to round Cape Horn, so it's time!"
His first impressions
It's a crazy thing, it's a race that has to be earned, you have to get every mile, every meter, you have to surpass yourself!
The emotion is too intense, it's hard to describe what I'm feeling..
It's great to finish third, with all the problems I had from the second week ... It started badly, I sometimes put the race on hold to solve the problems, but I didn't give up until the end. Nothing is free in this race, if you don't get anything you end up on the ground
I found it easier when Paul (Meilhat - SMA) was gone, although I feel sorry for him. But I felt freer to choose my options, more comfortable and better in my race from the moment I was alone.
This Vendée Globe is going to help me in the way I sail, I've learnt to be patient, which is not my main quality. I've sometimes gone crazy, I've punched my boat, I've cried... but if you don't want to give up, you kick yourself because you don't have a choice, you're on your own.
The finish was delirious, I tacked the boat at 19/20 knots with all the semi-rigids behind, whereas I hadn't had any wind for several days, the whole foot! Before the line, you only think about the line !!! As long as it's not crossed, there's always possible mistakes. But frankly, after 78 days, I'm really at one with the boat and I'm very comfortable in my manoeuvres.
I don't know how I'm going to handle this third place, having finished my Vendée Globe... It's a bit scary, I can't wait to see Armel and Alex, to say bravo to them, and to talk to them about all this, as only they can understand.
I want to do the next Vendée Globe with an even better boat! Obviously a foiler and as the next boats will go much faster, they will have to be ergonomic and more comfortable in the positions where you stay for a long time.
