Yannick Bestaven did not arrive at Les Sables-d'Olonne first, but he did win the Vendée Globe.

This sailing lover is also a talented entrepreneur.

But it was his taste for the collective, manifested during his rout to help Kevin Escoffier, which offered him the victory.

Sailing lover and businessman, these are the two sides of Yannick Bestaven.

The skipper of "Maître Coq", winner of the Vendée Globe on the night from Wednesday to Thursday, is an entrepreneur who knows where and when to invest.

But he has also rubbed shoulders with the biggest names in navigation and is, just as much, a "sailor".

One of the three competitors who diverted to assist Kevin Escoffier during the race, and who led the competition for a time, was rewarded with victory thanks to the compensations. 

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- Follow the finish of the Vendée Globe in Sables-d'Olonne

Beginnings with legends

This autodidact built the boat himself that enabled him to win the Mini-Transat, a transatlantic race, in 2001. Yannick Bestaven;

48 years old, is a man who knows how to surround himself in order to invest in good projects and good boats.

He also often takes care of the commercial operation in person and therefore has this fiber turned towards the "business".

But not only.

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It is also a pure "veileux".

The man made his debut with legends like Yves Parlier or Ellen MacArthur in 1999. And when the two sides of his personality meet, we find Watt & sea, which he co-created.

It is a hydro-generator which makes it possible to produce energy thanks to the movement of the boat.

An invention that was born in the mind of none other than the legendary Eric Tabarly. 

The taste of sharing

Those who know how to surround themselves also have a strong taste for the collective.

Before the departure of the Véndée Globe, Yannick Bestaven spoke about his relationship to sharing.

"What will be beautiful is to be able to make the public dream for two or three months, from a distance, by recounting our adventures around the world. It is important, in the times in which we live today , because everyone needs a deep breath of fresh air. And if we can bring that to our audience, it will be great, "he explained then.

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This group leader likes to share and pass on, never hesitating to repeat that he considers that there is no more collective than a solo race.

His rout, in order to come to the aid of Kevin Escoffier, finally rescued by Jean Le Cam, is undoubtedly the best illustration of his words.