Video: SAFRAN Triumphs in Costa Rica

Offical Press Release from Jacques Vabre:



"It was a mightily relieved and intensely happy Marc Guillemot who won the hard fought Transat Jacques Vabre IMOCA Open 60 class when, along with co-skipper Charles Caudrelier they ended a mentally tortuous final 24 hours sailing over the finish line early this morning off Puerto Limon, Costa Rica.

Marc Guillemot and Charles Caudrelier brought Safran across the finish line in the early hours of Tuesday morning (local time) off Peurto Limon, Costa Rica to complete an emotional victory in the IMOCA Open 60 class in the Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic race from Le Havre to Costa Rica.

Although the duo had battled through an horrendous Atlantic storm, during which they took the lead of the 14 boat IMOCA Open 60 class back on Thursday 12th November, the hard bitten skipper from La Trinité confirmed on the dockside that the worst part of their race was the final 24 hours.

Because both they and their nearest rivals Groupe Bel (Kito de Pavant and François Gabart), who were just 90 miles behind, had chosen to go in ‘stealth’ mode – during which their positions are no longer publically broadcast – he spent the final miles fighting through unpredictable light winds, squalls and shifting breezes as they closed to the Costa Rica coast through the night, being eaten up by worry that De Pavant and Gabart might still catch them with their ‘Laughing Cow’ logo’d, an identical design from VPLP/Verdier partnership.

“The most difficult time was today, every time were battling under the clouds, the storms, the rain, with no wind I was imagining Kito and François with their Laughing Cow running down the slopes with 25 knots of wind, whereas we were stuck with three or four knots. It was hyper hard for the moral, very stressful. Even up to an hour before the line we were still very anxious. But the main thing is that we got in in front.” Grinned a relieved Guillemot.

Behind Safran when they finished into Puerto Limon are double Vendée Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux, who was lying fourth before he and co-skipper Jérémie Beyou went into stealth mode, and 2004-5 Vendée winner Vincent Riou who lies ninth of the 14 boats which started in Le Havre on Sunday November 8th." Press release from official Jacques Vabre website. All Rights Reserved.