During the 1977-78 round-the-world crewed race, Yves Hussenot sailed on Pen Duick VI with Eric Tabarly. He brought back a film entitled Cap Horn, released in theaters at that time. In addition to his own images, he entrusted cameras to other competitors, notably on Gauloise II, the former Pen Duick III skippered by Eric Loiseau.
Hang on, it's wet!
These images are unique and show the difficulties encountered by the competitors of this race during the second leg, with the passage of Cape Horn and the navigation in the Southern seas. Seeing these sailors wearing simple PVC oilskins and wool sweaters at the bow of Pen Duick VI to tie up a jib with carabiners bigger than your fist, we perceive the evolution of the material both to protect the men and the performance of the sailboat.
Pen Duick VI disqualified!
It is also in this stage that we perceive the "war" that exists between the English organizers of the race and the French sailboats, Tabarly in the lead. Indeed, the sailor learned that his boat was disqualified for having a depleted uranium keel. A decision taken in the middle of the leg, which prevented the boat from winning, even though it was in the lead on all the legs. This lack of fair play on the part of the English would continue for many decades.
