A victorious finish
It's March 1993. Alain Gautier was leading the Vendée Globe race, several days ahead of his closest rival, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede. This edition was marked by the death of two sailors, Nigel Burgess and Mike Plant. Of the fifteen competitors who started, only seven will cross the finish line.
Alain Gautier, at the helm of Finot-Conq Bagages Superior, had been leading the race for several weeks. On March 11, 1993, he had just 24 hours left at sea before reaching the port of Les Sables-d'Olonne as the winner.
At the time, satellite communications were in their infancy, and notoriously unreliable. Patrick Poivre d'Arvor, star presenter of TF1's 8 o'clock news, is a keen sailor and ocean racer. He's keen to be the first to hear the future winner's impressions.
A live vacation
During a radio session between Alain Gautier and organizer Philippe Jeantot, the two men agreed on a precise time for the interview, which was to take place live. For this exchange, the sailor must call a number in the control room to be put in touch with the set.
This radio session took place over the airwaves, so that anyone could listen to the conversation and find out which number to call.
At the scheduled time, a stranger who had picked up the radio conversation called the control room and pretended to be Alain Gautier. Here's the surreal exchange between the presenter and the impostor:
PPDA: So you're not too disappointed at not being able to beat Titouan's record?
Mr X: Well, that's secondary. Until I've crossed the finish line, I can't say anything, but it's the culmination of several months, several years of work... I'm just happy.
PPDA: Are you currently experiencing this fear, this dread of finding your family and friends, of finding your little Minon, of finding your wife, but above all of finding the world that awaits you in Les Sables d'Olonne?
Mr X: I enjoy the last moments of solitude. Now there's going to be a whole bunch of stupid journalists coming down on me. I'm not really amused.
As a professional in this field, the presenter doesn't give up, and goes from strength to strength.
PPDA : It's a good thing I'm interviewing you before anyone else.
Mr X: What do you think? You're not worth a damn either. I've been around the world, it's better than the trips Botton paid for. I took Alain Gautier's place, and I'm really sorry for him, but I had a great time!
L'usurpateur refers live to a case in which the journalist is accused of having benefited from the favors of businessman Michel Botton.
The risks of direct
End of interview. The deception is belatedly discovered. TF1's news director and organizer Philippe Jeantot are not happy. PPDA can only assume, but would have preferred to avoid the whole thing.
And what about Alain Gautier? The sailor did call in at the scheduled time, but was called an impostor by the control room staff, who were convinced they had the right person on the other line.
