Present on the docks of Les Sables d'Olonne, Yann Eliès, who has participated in two editions of the Vendée Globe (2008-2009 and 2016-2017), graciously agreed to answer our questions. Even though the race is far from over, his initial analysis of this 10th edition is enlightening!
Voile Magazine: In your initial assessment, what provisional conclusions do you draw from this tenth edition of the Vendée Globe?
Yann Eliès: This edition has seen the rise of foilers. It means that, in the eyes of the general public, there were still doubts because Jean Le Cam had been quite vocal about the fact that compared to the last edition, the foilers hadn't lived up to expectations. This time, there's no question about it.
There's almost the distance of two Atlantic crossings between the first daggerboard boat and the first foiler. This observation finally crowns the architects, the teams, and all the development work of recent years. The concept works, and on top of that, there will be a historical record at the end, that of Armel Le Cléac'h in 74 days, which has been shattered...
Voile Magazine: Do you think the weather played a part in this? Because four years ago, it was quite a meteorological story. Do you think it was especially favorable this year?
Yann Eliès: It is true that the weather was particularly unfavorable four years ago, and it has been especially favorable this time. We'll see in four years if this weather was incredible or not. Anyway, on paper, it seems so. It's somewhat similar to the conditions encountered by Francis Joyon in 2017, which allowed him to set a fantastic time. A record that still stands...
Voile Magazine: Surely, the weather plays a role, but the technology of the flying IMOCA boats is now top-notch, right?
Yann Eliès: Definitely. At this very moment, all the foilers still have their two foils except Sébastien Simon. The designs of the hulls and foils have also been revised to make the boats perform better in the sea. The sailors are also increasingly sharp. So, with all these factors combined, along with an extremely favorable weather, it results in this exceptional edition on all levels.
Voile Magazine: What are your thoughts on the human aspect of this edition? Do you still see adventurers? Are there beautiful stories?
Yann Eliès: Absolutely! What thrilled me were the 24-hour records that fell one after the other in the South Atlantic. It's the choice of Sébastien Simon and Charlie Dalin in the depression north of the Kerguelen, Yoann's comeback in the south, not to mention the presence of icebergs. It was somewhat surprising to see sailors encountering icebergs. I thought the protection system was foolproof, but apparently not; there's still a small element of adventure left.
What also struck me were all the problems with the front sails, the hooks breaking, it's a bit technical, but it's true that quite a few front sails were lost. What also caught my attention was the freshness of Yoann in his videos; you could sense he was comfortable at sea, at least he was one of the sailors who, in front of the camera, seemed happy to be at sea, not showing too many difficulties. A bit like Sébastien Marsset, who I find very natural in his way of communicating.
Recently, there were the whales filmed by Éric Bellion before his abandonment. It saddened me a bit because I feel that due to inexperience, he put his nose where he shouldn't have. It reminded me a bit of Bernard Stamm, even though for him, it was even more catastrophic; he lost the boat after stopping at the Malvinas. You can sense that in a moment of lack of lucidity, you can think, 'I'll take shelter,' and then it turns out to be a trap...
Voile Magazine: Do you think Charlie Dalin is a worthy winner?
Yann Eliès: Yes, unquestionably. Even though he wasn't driven by a sense of revenge, you can feel that he had a determination within him that originated the day he passed Yannick Bestaven four years ago and realized that things wouldn't work out with him. At that moment, he already had a gentlemanly reaction, he remained silent, stayed humble in the face of what was happening because there was no possible solution. He didn't crack even though it must have been tough, and in a way, it strengthened his determination to go for victory in this edition.
Over four years, he built a new boat when some of us doubted that he could do better than Apivia. And indeed, architecturally speaking, his boat is even better. Moreover, he commits 100% to all the preparation, to everything he does. It's almost an obsession in the sense that he's capable of timing himself even when wing foiling or measuring his performances when cycling. It's truly a determination, total commitment, and to see it rewarded is great!
Although I would have been happy if it were Yoann as well because I got attached to the character in this campaign. So, it really forms a top duo. They are true athletes, real sportsmen. It's an incredible performance, and I believe we don't fully realize the dedication they put in, the battle it was before preparing and during the race. I think only these two sailors were capable of achieving such a performance.
Voile Magazine: If Sébastien Simon finishes third, it would still make three Figaro sailors of the same generation on the Vendée Globe podium. Do you think it's anything but a coincidence?
Yann Eliès: Yes, it confirms the victories of Armel Le Cléac'h and François Gabart. All these sailors have gone through the Figaro school. It's not the only way, but we must remember that just two years ago, the Figaro class was a bit in decline, people were hesitant to join because the level was too high. There was a fear of embarking without a sponsor on the Figaro circuit because of the high level; now I think you can hardly do without it.
However, you can still do the Mini-Transat, go through the Class40 circuit, or the Multi50 circuit; you shouldn't oppose these things. But at some point, if you haven't spent two or three years in the Figaro, you haven't acquired that rigor, that dedication. You really have to focus on it, spend time on it. I'm glad that pure products of the Port la Forêt training center are finishing on the podium.
I know from working there that Jeanne Grégoire and Erwan Tabarly devote themselves entirely. They spend time training young people, identifying them, helping them progress. Then they support the best of them in Multi, in IMOCA, those who are fortunate enough to find a budget. It's great that sport and performance are at the forefront. It goes without saying that Yannick Bestaven in 2020 didn't disappoint at all, far from it, but in this edition, we witness the consecration of high-level sports.
Practice
Products Review
Best
Yachts Review
How To
Wiki
Company
