Armel Le Cléac’h and the Maxi Trimaran Solo Banque Populaire VII on stand by for the multihull North Atlantic solo record attempt, New York City, United States of America.
“Sometimes, from beyond the skycrapers, the cry of a tugboat finds you in your insomnia, and you remember that this desert of iron and cement is an island.”
Albert Camus
Photo assignment for Banque Populaire.
Armel Le Cléac’h and the Maxi Trimaran Solo Banque Populaire VII before at the start of the TransMed record attempt which they just set in 18h 58min & 13sec, beating Thomas Coville’s time onboard Sodebo in the first solo multihull record time of the so called TransMed route between Marseille (France) and Carthage (Tunisia) of 25 hours 36 minutes and 36 seconds.
Photo assignment for Banque Populaire.
The Maxi Trimaran Solo Banque Populaire VII (FRA), the 103 feet trimaran skippered by Armel Le Cléac’h in front of the MuCEM (Museum for Europe and the Mediterranean) designed by Rudy Ricciotti.
Onboard the IMOCA Open 60 MACIF with François Gabart and Michel Desjoyeaux preparing for the Transat Jacques Vabre in the English Channel on delivery from Plymouth to Port-la-Forêt after she won her class in the Rolex Fastnet Race.
Photo assignment for MACIF.
The Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille is part of the French swimming history, one of the World’s best swimming team.
“The water is your friend…..you don’t have to fight with water, just share the same spirit as the water, and it will help you move”.
Alexandr Popov
Last runs for the Hydroptère in San Francisco Bay before heading back to Los Angeles, Hydroptère’s home for the Trans-Pacific record attempt.” Alain Thébault and his crew (Jacques Vincent, Yves Parlier, Jean Le Cam, Jeff Mearing, Warren Fitzgerald) San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Photo assignment for l’Hydroptère. http://www.hydroptere.com/
There is no more challenging sailing circuit on the planet than the IMOCA circuit. AC 72’s, Extreme 40’s, Volvo 70’s, TP 52’s, you name it. They all look bitch compared to the prospect of sailing an ultra-extreme 60-foot monohull around the planet non-stop by yourself. And no one does it better than Francois Gabart. The 29-year old Frenchman not only won the Vendée Globe, but he also set a new 24-hour solo monohull record and monohull circumnavigation record in the process. If that wasn’t enough, he added a win in the prestigious Transat B-to-B race and a 2nd place in the Europe Warm-Up, which includes solo, doublehanded and crewed legs. All told, no one on the planet can sail an IMOCA 60 like Francois, and that’s why he’s the champ. On Friday night in Lausanne, Switzerland the young protegé, earning his ride through an intensely competitive skipper selection process, was awarded as the 2012 IMOCA World Champion. Francois is the youngest sailor to ever win this title.
Sailing Anarchy was live on the scene to grab this report. Flying non-stop from San Fran to Paris and then to Geneva, I arrived in Switzerland severely jet-lagged before hitching a ride to the Beau Rivage Palace in Lausanne. Chatting up Alex Thomson, one of the nicest guys in the game, along the way I arrived in Lausanne just in time to watch Alessandro di Benedetto, Mike Golding, Roland Jourdain and more compete against a group of kids in Opti’s before the prize giving. Some cheating took place, Golding protested a 12-year old and a grand time was had by all with Lake de Lausanne and the snow capped Swiss Alps in the background. Even more beautiful than the ridiculously picturesque postcard setting is the love of sailing that permeates the entire scene. Kids are sailing with and against their heroes, a new World Champ is being crowned and sailing history is being made as Open Sports Management prepares to bring the IMOCA class into an even more international and prosperous light. The energy present creates goosebumps.
After the Opti regatta, the crowd moved into the ballroom of the famed 5-star Beau Rivage Palace to continue the celebration. On stage were previous IMOCA World Champs Roland Jourdain, Bernard Stamm, Mike Golding and Marc Guillermot, while Armel Le Cleac’h, Jean Le Cam and Jean Pierre Dick gave previously recorded video tributes. Sir Keith Mills of Open Sports Management and IMOCA class president Luc Talbourdet came together to outline the future vision and direction of the class before presenting a gracious Francois Gabart with his well-earned trophy as World Champion.
It’s incredible to watch Francois grow. 6 months ago when I first met him, he was the young protegé, the hopeful, the newcomer. Now he is a champion. Not just of the circuit’s premier race, but of the entire championship. He has matured immensely in just half a year. Gracious, energetic, humble and calm under pressure, Francois displays the character of a true champion. He has proven himself on the world’s grandest stage and has become a global representative of not just the class, but of the sport. So bravo, Francois! We raise our glass to you tonight in Switzerland and around the world. You’ve earned it and you’ve inspired a future generation of champions.
Words: Ronnie Simpson
http://www.ronniesimpsonracing.com
IPhone 5 Photography.
