Yannick Bestaven won the 2020-2021 Vendée Globe on Maitre Coq and has just launched his new IMOCA boat with the same round-the-world goal. On the Route du Rhum, he intends to take control of his boat and sail as much as possible to qualify for the 2024 Vendée Globe.
Since the end of 2021, you have handed over your old boat to Damien Seguin, how did you continue training?
I did not sail since my new boat was launched at the end of August 2022.
Your boat is a Verdier design from the 11th Hour 2 molds. Why did you make this choice ? How did you adapt it differently from the first model ?
I made this choice because I know the architect Guillaume Verdier. On the other hand, I might as well reuse existing tooling rather than build. Carbon molds are expensive, slow to build and usually only used once. My boat was built at CDK, in Lorient.
The deck plan is different from that of 11th Hour, because it was designed to sail with a crew in The Ocean Race. I do single-handed or short-handed sailing.
What are the differences with your old boat? Architecturally speaking, but also in navigation?
The foils are twice as big and the average speeds are higher. The cockpit is well protected and covered, and the bow is more rounded.
What is your assessment of your first sailings on board?
I haven't sailed much to get some perspective, but overall I'm happy. The Route du Rhum will be my first race with the boat.
Where are you in your preparation? And learning about your boat?
We're running out of time. The Route du Rhum is not the main objective, my objective is the Vendée Globe 2024. We mustn't confuse haste with preparation.
What will be the objective of this Route du Rhum with a launch at the end of August? A collective training session?
The idea is to sail and come back by sea, to sail miles with my boat. It's an opportunity to qualify for the Vendée Globe in solo and in false solo. In terms of performance, the objective is to get to grips with the boat and establish the operating instructions. There's no need to play the performance game.
A month ago, the Azimut Challenge took place, an opportunity to discover the latest IMOCA boats and to measure up before the RDR. Was it a deliberate choice on your part not to participate or was the timing too short?
We couldn't go because of the delay. We were three months late on the construction, so with a launch at the end of August and the objective of lining up for the start of the Route du Rhum, it was too short. Concerning the new plans, there is not really any opinion to be made since it is once again Apivia which won!
