Somewhere at sea, in the Atlantic, off the Portuguese coast.

Yannick Bestaven drinks his coffee, prepared by his partner Jean-Marie Dauris, aboard the Imoca Maître Coq, currently tenth in the race.

"He does the housework! I'm at the office!"

jokes Bestaven, reached by AFP on the fourth day of the race.

"I also changed the trash, in a couple, there must be one who does!", Adds Dauris.

The two friends have not raced in doubles since 1995 and the atmosphere is good for this crossing which puts an end to the Vendée Globe 2020 adventure. After the race, the boat will be taken over by Damien Seguin (Groupe Apicil) and Bestaven will pass on a latest generation boat capable of flying.

The French skipppers Yannick Bestaven (l) and Jean-Marie Dauris leave the port of Le Havre, aboard their monohull Imoca 60 "Maître Coq", on November 7, 2021, during the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS AFP / Archives

"This transatlantic, we see it as a first stone. I am leaving with Jean-Marie, who is directly concerned by the construction of the new boat. In terms of objective, we will try to have fun and make good shots" , underlines Bestaven, far from being the favorite in this race.

Shine on the Route du Rhum

"I know that I have a deficit compared to the new boats with their large foils. It was not so much in the Vendée Globe, because it is an endurance and complicated race. There, on a shorter course , there is a big speed differential between these boats and mine, ”explains the sailor from La Rochelle.

He will have his new sailboat in June, a "sister-ship" of 11th Hour Racing Team Malama, currently fifth in the Imoca fleet (the Vendée Globe boats) of the Transat Jacques Vabre with Charlie Enright at the helm and Pascal Bidégorry.

"I hope they will win because it is a good sign! I am all the way behind them!"

bursts into laughter Bestaven, which will launch its new boat on the Route du Rhum 2022 (single-handed transatlantic).

The French skippper Yannick Bestaven leaves the port of Le Havre, aboard his monohull Imoca 60 "Maître Coq", on November 7, 2021, during the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS AFP / Archives

"The Route du Rhum is one of the great races on which I would like to shine. This race made me dream when I was little. I will always remember the starts - moreover it was his last - of Loïc Caradec (who disappeared at sea during the Route du Rhum 1986). At the time, guys were hallucinating, "he recalls.

"I had to build myself"

Dream.

And hold on to his dreams.

This is the credo of Yannick Bestaven, who had learned by chance that Maître Coq was looking for a skipper to enter the Vendée Globe.

Financially cornered, he was hardly able to pay his drafts to repay the loan for his boat.

He was the last to submit a partnership file to Maître Coq, who had already received fourteen.

"Today, we put together a project, I was received with great fanfare by the banks, it makes me laugh now. While at one point, the bank told me: + We must put the boat in sale, otherwise we will grab it! + ", recalls the 48-year-old sailor.

Since his victory in the Vendée Globe, life has been packed for the sailor, who recounts his adventure in a book "My trip around the world in 80 days (Ed. Gallimard). And who is the hero of an atypical film, “Dreams never die” by Sébastien Blémon. A feature film that hits theaters on December 5 and in which actor Daniel Auteuil, astronaut Thomas Pesquet, writer Erik Orsenna, footballer Bixente Lizarazu, or even the adventurer Philippe Croizon also tell their dreams and how they managed to make them come true.

The joy of French skippper Yannick Bestaven, carried in triumph on January 28, 2021 in the port of Sables-d'Olonne, after winning the 9th edition of the Vendée Globe, aboard his monohull "Maître Coq IV" Sebastien SALOM-GOMIS AFP / Archives

"I am not from a family of sailors, nor do I have a gift, I had to build myself. I think that I am an opportunist in life", slips the ninth winner of the Vendée Globe.

© 2021 AFP