HIS RACE IN FIGURES
Finish time: 21:02:01 (UTC)
Elapsed time: 12d 03 h 02 min 01 sec
Delta to first: 1d 23h 17min 31sec
Distance sailed: 4 180.83 miles
Average speed (on the great circle): 10.89 knots
His race
Only just missing third by a matter of x hours, the result signals an important upturn in fortunes for the skipper who had to abandon his last Vendée Globe into Cape Town. He had rocky period thereafter before finding a new sponsor in Groupe Dubreuil at the same time getting hold of the highly optimised, well proven The Ocean Race winning IMOCA 11th Hour Racing.
But the skipper who signalled his talent and potential by winning the 2018 La Solitaire du Figaro had a disappointing first solo race on the boat when he had to stop into the Azores on the Rétour à La Base with an electronics blackout, had a cracked vertebrae in his back and then lost his mast within sight of the Lorient finish line.
Simon outplayed Thomas Ruyant for fourth and even had his eye on Jérémie Beyou's third place for a time and only finished xx xx hrs after Charal. But now he puts himself in the frame as Vendée Globe top group contender.
HE SAID:
"I'm happy to have had the opportunity to push this incredible boat a bit harder and to have had the opportunity to show what I am capable of on board. I am proud of all the work that has been done by the team, for my partners, for my loved ones.
There was a fairly significant element of sheer randomness in this transatlantic race. The first two had a good race and whatever happens, the leaders are always out there, whatever the configuration of the race.
Being one of the four skippers who were fighting each other tooth and nail hroughout the transatlantic race was quite incredible. And I can assure you that the pace was really high and I admire the others for that. It reminded me of the Figaro years and I hope that the Vendée Globe will be with the same intensity."
In any case it gives confidence. It was a very rich and dense pre-season and now it’s time for the Vendée Globe. I believe that there has never been a level as high and close as this in IMOCA. It was really hard, with rhythms where I slept 10 minutes at a time when everything was going well. The commitment needed is incredible, it’s fabulously intense and that’s what’s actually great.
Beating Thomas (Ruyant) is awesome. I know he is pushing his boat beyond the limits. He is an exceptional sailor so to be able to overtake him, I put everything I had into it, I believed until the end. And finishing just behind Jerem’ (Beyou) as well, it really reminds me of the Figaro years. It was exactly the same thing except that today they are bigger boats, which go faster and for longer periods of time. »
