HIS race in figures
Finish time: 00h 46min 31sec (french time)
Elapsed: 13d 04h 46min 31sec
Delta to first: 3d 01h 02min 01sec
Distance covered: 4 203.89 miles
Average speed (on the great circle route): 10.01 knots
Louis said:
“It was long, intense and slow but also full of good lessons. It proved quite an adventure with the collision with an OFNI (unidentified floating object) which gave be a bit of a handicap from the start. It was hard and I am pretty tired out finishing. I have had to be very resilient and hang on until the finish because at one point, I must have been way back at 23rd or 24th in the ranking after my problems at the start. It actually set me into the rhythm of racing round the world where time sometimes drags and no matter what happens you have to just stay positive And you always have to believe in your choices.
Many transitions, stopping in light wind zones and the difficulty forecasting models have in producing correct weather files meant that we were always, always on the go. As soon as we slept for any length of time it seemed like we paid a high price. That’s why we are all completely shattered, our nerves frayed. The ‘advantage’ of light winds is that we have fewer technical problems, we damage the boat less and therefore we can also concentrate on speed. I tried to take advantage of that as much as possible so that it will be as useful for the future.
The southern option? Well I was the first to believe in it. As I was no longer with up with the lead group, I was free to make my own choices, without putting pressure on myself compared to the others. It couldn't really be worse anyway. Up to a certain point the break to the south still left the choice of crossing back to the fleet but then the point came where you had to commit definitively, aiming to pass south of the Azores. It also fitted with my aim not to damage the boat, but in reality, there were not many other choices as going north or taking the middle route needed you to have being in the peloton at the start and beyond that getting out and ahead of the front. There were only these two skippers who did that of the ten to twelve leading boats.
It’s really all a bit crazy because we’ve never sailed so much in a Vendée Globe year. You have to be satisfied with that because, obviously, it allows you to learn, to train well and to see what you can still do to improve things technically between now and the start of the world tour. But on the other hand there is a constant stress and mental fatigue that is undeniable and that is the same for everyone, whether it is apparent or not. We must now try to let the pressure go drop. At Bureau Vallée, we are having a big meet up with all our partners this week in Saint-Malo. We will try to have as much fun as possible together. During the next week, I’ll get back get into gentle physical preparation mode, then make sure I rest. Last time, Covid, despite all the problems it caused, its allowed us skippers to be very focused and I appreciate that now. I'm going to try to find that focus again, without the mask over my mouth and enjoying life. I’m going to make the most of my 15 years of experience in the IMOCA to prepare for the Vendée Globe as best as I can, but still enjoying spending time with family and with my children."
