There's something for everyone!
After the sinking of his IMOCA Bastide Otio s participation in the 2016 Vendée Globe, Kito de Pavant found himself without a boat for the end of his programme with his sponsors Bastide and Otio, who had signed up alongside him until the end of 2017, and the Transat Jacques Vabre . He was therefore looking for a new boat to take part in the race, but the IMOCA market is currently a bit "stuffy".
And it is thanks to Yannick Bestaven, who has just bought an IMOCA (the former Initiatives-C?ur de Tanguy de Lamotte) and is currently looking for sponsors for his 2020 Vendée Globe project, that Kito has found the solution to his problem. Indeed, the former has offered his boat to the latter for the 2017 season. The two men will therefore be taking part together in the Transat Jacques Vabre on Yannick Bestaven's IMOCA, which has been donned in the colours of Bastide Otio for the occasion.
"I've known Yannick for a long time, we met in the Figaro and he's someone I really like. He was also a substitute on the Barcelona in 2011 in case one of us (I was teaming up with Sébastien Audigane) couldn't make the start. We had done the delivery trip between Port Camargue and Barcelona. That was the only time we sailed together. Since then he has been our supplier for the Watt & Sea hydrogenerators. He's a cool guy and I think we're going to get along well. He already has a long list of achievements, especially in the Transat Jacques Vabre. And for me it will be the 9th edition. It's a good partnership, we're going to be quite complementary. We'd often thought about doing transatlantic races together, but it didn't work out. Now's your chance!" explains Kito de Pavant.
"I'm very happy with this association, we've known each other for a long time with Kito, we've been through quite a few things together, in particular the return to port in 2008 in the Vendée Globe. That creates strong bonds. Kito is a sailor that I respect a lot both humanly and in terms of sport. He has a great track record and has always been one of the top names in the Transat Jacques Vabre. That shows his talent. It's a very good opportunity for my 2020 Vendée Globe project to team up with Kito, who has a lot of experience in IMOCA boats. It's a great project, which is being put in place little by little and is going to get stronger and stronger all the way to Le Havre" indicates Yannick Bestaven.
A Vendée Globe that brings us closer
Yannick Bestaven made a name for himself in 2001, at the age of 29, with his victory in the Mini-Transat. Kito de Pavant was 41 when he won the Solitaire du Figaro in 2002. And that is how the two men made a name for themselves in the world of ocean racing.
In 2008, they are both taking part in their first Vendée Globe - Yannick Bestaven on Aquarelle.com - Charente-Maritime The first was a 1996 Finot-Conq plan and the second was Kito de Pavant on Groupe Bel, a 2007 VPLP-Verdier plan. After just one day of racing, a violent storm dismasts them at only a few minutes intervals. They will be comforted on their return to Les Sables-d'Olonne.
Kito de Pavant will be setting out on the Vendée Globe again in 2012, then in 2016. While Yannick Bestaven is creating Watt & Sea, a company that designs hydrogen generators and will equip the majority of the boats at the start of the 2016 Vendée Globe and the 2017 Volvo Ocean Race.
In the meantime, the two skippers have taken part in several races, including the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2007, 2011, 2013 and 2015. Between them, they have 12 participations in the event, 5 podiums, including 2 victories for Yannick. They have also raced against each other in Class40 and fought for the 3 e place on the podium, with only one and a half hours separating them, in the 2014 Route du Rhum.
Launching and training before fall
After a refit in Lorient to dress her up in her new colours, Yannick Bestaven's IMOCA boat was launched on 2nd May, before taking to the water for the first time on 4th May. A busy schedule awaits the boat over the coming months:
- Public relations operations with Le Conservateur, Yannick Bestaven's faithful partner
- Giraglia Rolex Cup with the duo of skippers
- Summer quarters in Port Camargue, stronghold of Kito de Pavant and his team, who will be able to fine-tune the technical preparation between two training sessions with Yannick Bestaven, with a view to the double-handed transatlantic race
- Convoy to Le Havre for the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre on November 5
