In EXCLUSIVITY, for Ouest-France, Jérémie Beyou and his Charal sailing team have opened the Imoca construction site and the skipper's preparation up to the start of the Route du Rhum. Eleven "inside" episodes to discover more closely how the skipper and his team live this adventure. Today, 15 days before the start, Jérémie Beyou participates in his last training with other Imoca in Port-la-Forêt. Under the eye of his personal coach: Bertrand Pacé.
Since the launch of his new Imoca, Charal, at the end of August, time is running out for Jérémie Beyou and his team. About fifteen outings a day, or a little more, it is little to appropriate all the subtleties of settings of such a machine, the most high tech of its category to date.
On Wednesday 17 in Port-la-Forêt, Charal participates in his first, and last, joint training with seven other Imoca.
It could have been an opportunity to confront, again in terms of speed, but the conditions that morning, between 7 and 9 knots of wind, flat sea, is not typical of what we imagine being a departure from Route du Rhum. Moreover, Jérémie Beyou will steal the start for two or three seconds and will be forced to repair his fault by returning to cross the line.
Stolen departure
On the first edge of close who takes them to a way point, 15 miles offshore, Charal is not comfortable, and even closes the march. But it is not very important. What interests Jérémie Beyou is to accumulate the miles, and maneuvers to advance the performance of his boat.
To accelerate its progress, the 3rd of the last Vendée Globe has hired the services of Bertrand Pacé, coach, former helmsman of several challenges of the America's Cup, multi winners of the Tour de France at Sailing, and champion of France and the world of match-racing. A precious help that this outside eye .... There is only one week left before arriving in Saint-Malo.
Charal flies towards the departure ..