No surprises
When Yoann Richomme took back to back Route du Rhum victories in the Class40 he demonstrated an unusual mastery of weather and strategy… not to mention the ability to set his boat up to perfection and drive it like he stole it. So few were all that surprised when Richomme proved to be Charlie Dalin’s principal opposition during his friend’s
recent Vendée Globe victory onboard Macif. Jocelyn Blériot sits down with a remarkable racer who is already odds on favourite for the next race in 2028
In his inaugural Vendée Globe Yoann Richomme secured second place aboard Paprec Arkéa, completing the solo circum- navigation in 65d 18h 10m. Firmly posi- tioning himself where all commentators expected him – at the very front of the fleet – from the outset, he duelled with an unforgivingly masterful Charlie Dalin, whose relentless pace took its toll on both nerves and gear. Yet throughout the race
40 SEAHORSE
Yoann always found time to share and explain – mood, strategy, technical consid- erations alike. Obviously, we were always going to want to know more, and barely gave him time to catch his breath… But finding the right question to ask a
man who has spent two weeks giving back-to-back interviews is the journalistic equivalent of trying to get water flowing uphill. To make matters worse, Yoann was talking to me live from his bed, pinned down by a nasty flu – no doubt the result of getting back ashore and being assaulted by all sorts of germs, viruses… and stupid questions (yes, they do create an irresistible urge to hide under the duvet, sometimes – it’s a scientific fact). The wisest move, I thought, was to let
him choose his own opening gambit by asking him what he was keen to address, and that no journalist had made space for so far. ‘Actually, it’s not so much what I have not been asked… but more the fact that a lot of people have started to speak on my behalf when it comes to whether or not I’ll do the next Vendée Globe.
‘I often hear “Of course you’ll do it
again”, or “Yes, he’s definitely preparing for 2028”, when in fact – and quite a few of us have said the same thing – I am taking the time to think about it, to find a solid “why” to inform the next steps. ‘I was listening to Justine’s (Mettraux)
press conference yesterday, and she was saying pretty much just that. It strikes me that there might be more hesitation than after previous editions, when I listen to skippers answering that question.’ Yoann admits that he has spent quite a bit of time thinking about where to go next, while racing around the world at breakneck speed. The perspective he brings is a very inter-
esting prism that immediately shaped our conversation, which was never going to be solely focused on the race itself anyway (my safe assumption is that you’ve fol- lowed it live, read the updates, gorged on social media posts – Seahorse is here for depth and reflection. You’re welcome). ‘Competing on the water has dominated
the past 15 years of my life, and it’s been just great… but there are also other things I’d
CHRISTOPHE LAUNAY/DPPI
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