Petulance and planning are incompatible
Officially, Amedeo cites unfavourable weather âeuros light wind, reduced speed, untenable July 6 deadline âeuros and scheduling impediments to justify his withdrawal. " This year is a year of transition. I can't stay at sea as long as the weather demands." he wrote in his press release. A sentence that has raised eyebrows in the industry.
While it's not uncommon for a squall to upset the plans of an ocean race, many people remember that a committed skipper, even in training, has to deal with the vagaries of the sea. At a time when a number of IMOCA boats are struggling to get through the Fastnet in light conditions, the withdrawal of one of their entrants creates a void at the finish line, but above all a fracture in the race's collective image.
A preparation race or just a showcase?
Although part of the IMOCA Globe Series calendar, the Course des Caps is not considered a qualifying event. It remains a mid-season event, conducive to coastal sailing and crew practice. A serious playground, but with no decisive stakes. Hence Fabrice Amedeo's decision to stop racing and return to port. But can we afford to give up so early on the pretext of weather inertia?
This decision marks a shift towards a more event-based approach to racing, with image and communication strategy taking precedence over sporting rigor. It's an intriguing development at a time when IMOCA boats are increasingly professionalizing their structures, with crews, partners, weather specialists and heavy investment.
A decision that raises questions for classes and organizers alike
The decision to withdraw from the race, without any damage or medical emergency, but due to a schedule constraint, raises a fundamental question: is participation in an official race, even a training race, conditioned by the personal priorities of a professional skipper? And above all, how far can such withdrawals be tolerated without emptying the races of their sporting content? At a time when some events are struggling to attract a full field, the stakes go beyond Fabrice Amedeo's case alone.
In sailing circles, we all remember the rough tales, the solo sailors who doubted but held on, those who finished for honor, even in slow motion. Let's hope that this incident will remain an isolated case, and that the crews who took on their sporting commitments will put on a great show at the finish of this first edition of the Course des Caps.
