Jérémie Beyou has trouble digesting his forced return to Sables-d'Olonne.

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SIPA

Four years of intensive preparation and sacrifices, this is what has just shattered for Jérémie Beyou, the big favorite of this Vendée Globe 2020, who had to turn around to return to Les Sables-d'Olonne after breaking his rudder. .

The skipper did not hide his sadness, even his anger, Thursday, during a session with the PC of the race around the world alone.

“Honestly, I'm waking up from four years of preparation to try to win the Vendée and it's over,” he said, annoyed.

“It's always the same… It gets worse when we think about the events around us.

Now, when you are a top athlete, you only live through your lens.

For four years, I have lived with the objective of trying to win the Vendée Globe.

I am 100% in there, I do not see anything that exists around.

When it stops like that, suddenly, it's super violent, ”said the sailor, who had finished third in the last edition (2016/2017).

After a complete check of the boat, the repairs are more important than expected, Jérémie and his team have therefore decided to set sail for Les Sables d'Olonne.

More information to come. # VendeeGlobe #VivonsFort

- Jérémie Beyou - Charal Sailing Team (@JeremieBeyou) November 11, 2020

"That's why I took so long to turn around, I should probably have turned right away, because going to cross the front with the boat in this state, necessarily that did other collateral damage but I couldn't believe it.

Waking up is a bit hard, ”he continued.

Beyou could quit the race

The navigator first had a problem with the headsail clew point return chainplate, which "blew up the clew bulkhead" then the boat struck an ofni (unidentified floating object ), which damaged the starboard rudder.

Continuing its course in the face of a violent front, the “backstay current” (mast holding part) exploded.

Beyou ultimately had no choice but to come back to try to fix it, but it's not sure if he leaves.

“There, I bring the boat back and I'll see after.

I don't know, I don't know, ”he whispered.

“My dad went to the hospital, he had a stroke a week before leaving, I completely glossed over all that.

Obviously there, it breaks a little in the face, ”he said.

Beyou is expected on Saturday morning in Sables-d'Olonne.

He will have until November 18, 2:20 p.m. to leave.

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