By crossing the line at 9:15 (French time - UT+1) this Friday November 18th after 15 days 18 hours 15 minutes and 54 seconds* of racing, Jean-Pierre Dick and Jeremy Beyou win the Transat Jacques Vabre on board Virbac-Paprec 3, after leading the fleet for eleven consecutive days.
2011 is a decidedly good year for the duo. A Solitaire du Figaro and a first Transat Jacques Vabre for Jérémie Beyou. A triple win** in this event and a second Barcelona World Race for Jean-Pierre Dick. Virbac-Paprec 3 beats the official race record held by Safran in 2009 and improves on the crossing time by 1 hour and 07 minutes. The skipper from the Riviera wins his fifth major event*** on the IMOCA circuit in 10 years.
"The start was a high point with all the skippers and organizers considering the difficult weather conditions forecast. The postponement of the start was psychologically significant. It played on everyone's mental capacities and the decisions taken on board. We sailed in a strong gale in the early days. Many Imoca skippers then took a less windy southern route. "
The choice of the northern route
Jérémie: "Off the coast of Ireland, we lacked
clear-sightedness and we tacked too late. We regained
control and debriefed. This was a lesson for the future.
After the Azores, we agreed on our strategy and the effort
required. We were not reluctant to sail in heavy
conditions, it was a good decision."
JP: "We deliberately chose a northern route from the
beginning, because it seemed faster. We met with some very
rough conditions. Passing through this ridge of high
pressure off the Azores was a turning point in the race.
The southerners were stuck for a day or so, while we
maintained a speed of 10 knots."
A determined, decided and persistent duo
JP: "Jérémie has something in common with all of my
victorious co-skippers (Nicolas Abiven, Damian Foxall and
Loick Peyron): they are top-rate, well-behaved, and polite
people. He is an exceptional, tenacious and first class
racer; in this respect we are very similar. His ability to
make headway with the boat all the time amazes me, as does
his incredible motivation. I did everything to ensure that
Jérémie felt a part of the project and was able to say what
he liked. We work really well as a team. He gives the best
of himself, and handles the boat 100%. He is a nice,
pleasant person and it was a real pleasure to spend these
sixteen days with him."
Jérémie: "It was a real pleasure to sail with JP. He
is really pleasant, engaging, and a great friend. I found
that he was very tough, determined and unrelenting. He
never lets go. It is better to have Jean-Pierre with you
than against you!"
11 days of domination
JP: "We struggled to find our feet on the first three
days, and then three quarters of the way through the race,
we showed that we were the boss, since we stuck to our
strategy and took our decisions and fate in hand. We have
done a good job, and went flat out and it paid
off!"
Jérémie: "It is always enjoyable to lead a race, take
the right strategic decisions and manage to widen the gap
between you and your followers. We did things simply, just
as we hoped, with common sense. The duo worked well on
board Virbac-Paprec 3 and the boat sailed fast. This gives
you an extra thrill!"
Victory!
JP: "It's fantastic. There was a top-class line-up
in the Imoca class. With Jeremy it was a beautiful moment
of sailing. I find it hard to realize that I have won my
third Transat Jacques Vabre. There are few people who have
done this. This is wonderful. I do not know how to explain
this triple win. I have a feeling, some kind of chemistry
with this race. This fires you up again, it's a boost
and of great benefit to everyone."
Jérémie: "The two Jacques Vabres that I raced in
resulted in two fourth places. To finally win a big
transatlantic race, and double-handed at that, which is not
my favourite, gives me great pride. Especially since the
pressure was on me, because normally if you take part in a
double-handed race with Jean-Pierre you win. I was tense
from the start. The test was a success! It was a success
because JP knows how to provide his partner with the keys
and share information, he is the ideal mate!
* Their race time was 15d 18hr 15min 54 sec. Their average
course speed was 12.51 knots. They sailed 5,167 miles on
the water at an average speed of 13.66 knots. Reminder: the
race's theoretical distance was 4,730 miles.
** Jean-Pierre Dick won the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2003
with Nicolas Abiven, Virbac-Paprec Sailing Team's
current Technical Manager, and with Loïck Peyron in
2005.
*** Three wins in the Transat Jacques Vabre, two victories
in the Barcelona World Race 2008 and 2011