Les Sables-d'Olonne (France) (AFP)
The sailor Isabelle Joschke (MACSF) symbolically crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe on Wednesday noon to the cheers of the public, completing her first round the world out of the race after a damage that forced her to retire in January.
Passed in 11th position at Cape Horn before giving up, "forced to bail like an automaton" in her words, Isabelle Joschke was greeted under a frank sun by a large audience gathered all along the channel of Les Sables d'Olonne.
Jean Le Cam, 4th in this edition of the race, was also present to welcome him.
The 44-year-old Franco-German skipper (MACSF) was forced to retire on January 9 off the Falkland Islands after the breakage of a false keel cylinder installed after the loss of the hydraulic cylinder rod, which resulted in a waterway on board.
She then brought her Imoca back to Salvador de Bahia before resuming the road, out of the race, on February 5.
At the head of an association that promotes diversity in sailing, she is the fourth woman to complete this Vendée Globe.
With a master's degree in classical letters, Isabelle Joschke began her career in 2005, when, after discovering sailing at the Glénans school, she embarked on the Mini Transat before joining Class40 then in the Vendée Globe adventure.
She was sailing aboard a 2007 Imoca on which the latest generation foils (appendages allowing the boat to fly, editor's note) were grafted, Kévin Escoffier's twin boat which sank at sea.
"Isa's race was almost flawless. The downside - which she also mentioned - is her start, her first two days of racing which can be very penalizing. Apart from that, she had a flawless Vendée Globe ", declared Tuesday Alain Gautier," team manager "of MACSF and winner of the Vendée Globe 1992/1993, on the site of the race.
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