This Monday, December 6, 2021, the election evening for the Sailor of the Year took place. There were 12 nominees in the running for the annual prize awarded by the French Sailing Federation. During an award ceremony held at the Olympia, the jury chaired by the sailor and adventurer Guirec Soudée rewarded the winner of the Vendée Globe 2020-2021, Yannick Bestaven.
"There are a lot of great names on this trophy. It's an honor for me to be on this list of great sailors. My victory in the Vendée Globe is the result of a lot of work, time spent on the water and preparation. You do solo racing, but you don't do anything alone. I dedicate this trophy to my partners, my team, my family and my loved ones said the navigator.
The skipper of the IMOCA Maitre Coq received 12 out of 17 votes in the first round. Charline Picon, double Olympic medallist in windsurfing, received 4 votes and Thomas Goyard, European and world champion in IQFoil, 1 vote.
Before the awards ceremony, Yannick Bestaven was awarded the Legion of Honor euros, as was Jean Le Cam euros, by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron.
"I am extremely honored to have received the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur which is a prestigious mark of recognition. It was a solemn and moving moment that I had the chance to share with my partners, my team, my family but also with other skippers."
This ceremony was the occasion to reward 29 champions of the year in different sailing disciplines with the Champions Trophy.
