Launched for 50 days around the world, Yannick Bestaven, winner of the Vendée Globe in 2021, announced his retirement on Monday, December 30, just after rounding Cape Horn. The French skipper was unable to repair his boat, which was seriously damaged by the waves.
Suffering a major breakdown on his steering system on Friday, the skipper of Maître CoQ V decided to stopover in Ushuaïa (Argentina) to attempt repairs. His sailboat, now difficult to maneuver, could not continue in complete safety.
On Monday morning, the Rochelais occupied 11th position in the Vendée Globe, approximately 2,000 nautical miles from the head of the race, still dominated by Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) and Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance).
“I would have liked to round Cape Horn in better conditions, but the boat and the sea decided otherwise. I will have to make a technical stopover in Ushuaïa”, said Bestaven, moved and visibly exhausted, in a video sent to the media.
🚨 Le tenant du titre Yannick Bestaven, contraint de faire escale à Ushuaïa, annonce son retrait du Vendée Globe
Après avoir annoncé vendredi 27 décembre une avarie importante sur le système de barre de l’IMOCA Maître CoQ V, impossible à réparer en mer, @YannickBestaven, en… pic.twitter.com/f8HtiuznwG
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000— Vendée Globe (@VendeeGlobe) December 30, 2024
A black streak since the start of his race
Author of a solid first half of the race, always inserted in the top 10 since passing Cape Finisterre (Spain), the 52-year-old sailor has experienced a terrible black series this week in rough seas between Point Nemo and Cape Horn.
Loss of a sail, damage to the starboard foil… Bestaven still persevered until this damage to an important part of his steering system, making his boat unsteerable and dangerous before going back up the Atlantic.
“The starboard rear of Maître CoQ V is broken, the hull bottom is delaminated, coupled with my steering problems it was not possible to continue any further”, estimated Bestaven, double winner of the Transat Jacques-Vabre (2011, 2015).
He managed to improvise a makeshift system using ropes to steer his boat a little, but had been moving forward for nearly 72 hours at a speed of less than 13 knots near the coast argentines.
Last solo offshore race
The skipper was expected ashore during the day. On site, he will be joined in a few days by part of his team to begin repairs that would be impossible to do alone. Exhausted but in good health, Yannick Bestaven then plans to set off again to finish his Vendée Globe out of the race, as other famous sailors have done before him (Isabelle Autissier in 1996/1997, Samantha Davies 2020/2021…).
“We're going to be positive and look ahead to the future, see if Maître CoQ V can be repaired so I can continue on my path. Even if I'm out of the race, I'd like to reach Les Sables d'Olonne solo”, explained Bestaven. Winner of a breathtaking 2020-2021 edition in 80 days 3 hours 44 minutes and 46 seconds, he had announced before this new round the world race, his 4th participation in the Everest of the seas, that it would be his last solo race.
“I'm stopping. With age, I know that it will be more and more difficult to be at the top level: solo racing is hard, it's a lot of pressure”, he had detailed. “On the other hand, it's important to me to pass on my knowledge. I was able to have a great career in ocean racing. To allow others to do the same thing, I think that's great”, he had added. This is the fifth withdrawal from this tenth edition. The leaders of the Vendée Globe are expected to arrive in Les Sables-d'Olonne around January 20.