The Imoca PRB helmed by Vincent Riou won the Vendée Globe in 2005. It had already won in 2001 in the hands of Michel Desjoyeaux.

Since then, it has been rotting in the port of Brest.

-

F. Prevel / SIPA

He will almost see them pass.

While the first Vendée Globe skippers are expected in the evening at Les Sables d'Olonne, a former glory of racing around the world is languishing a few kilometers away.

Moored at the pontoon in the port of Brest, this Imoca is the only one to have won the most famous ocean race twice.

Then sponsored by PRB, the sailboat was skippered by Michel Desjoyeaux when it crossed the finish line in the lead in 2001. Four years later, it is in the hands of Vincent Riou that this racing beast will prevail.

In 2009, Samantha Davies will finish 4th in the event on board.

And since ?

Well, it's hard to say.

According to France 3 Bretagne, the sailboat has been stationary in the port of Brest for at least eight years.

The regional channel even questioned local skippers, annoyed to see the sailboat slowly dying.

Navigator of Finistère, Gildas Morvan would have tried to buy it several years ago, but its owners would have refused to sell it.

In 2017,

Le Télégramme

had already devoted an article to this abandoned boat.

Called "Fruit", it would cost a small fortune to its owners.

Bought by Poles

According to the daily, the Imoca had been bought by a Polish market gardening company with a view to participating in the Barcelona Race in 2010. But the prestigious boat had been refused, on the grounds that it did not comply.

Since that date, it has been turning green and rotting in the waters of the port of Brest.

According to

Le Télégramme

, the owner would pay 9,000 euros per year since 2013 in pontoon rights.

Or a budget of around 70,000 euros, never to budge.

As the state of degradation advances, it is less and less likely to see it once again to sea one day.

According to the sailor Anne Liardet, who sailed on board in 2005 and 2006 for the Route du Rhum and the Transat Jacques Vabre under the sponsor Roxy, the restoration work would cost several hundred thousand euros.

When questioned, the skipper even let out a few tears when she noticed the condition of her old baby.

Sport

Vendée Globe LIVE: Dalin arrives like a bullet and puts pressure on Herrmann and Bestaven ... Follow the end of the race with us

Sport

Vendée Globe: A slower edition than usual, failure or inevitability?

  • Navigator

  • Boat

  • Harbor

  • Rum route

  • Sables d'Olonne

  • Brest

  • Sailing ship

  • Vendée Globe

  • Sport

  • Sail