- Almost a year after the inaugural Calero Solo Transat left Marina Lanzarote, all of the participants successfully crossed the Vendee Globe finishing line.
- This element of the race, that brings first-timers and often non-career sailors to take part in the race, engages multitudes of public followers.
Last month saw the arrival of Pieter Heerema and Sébastian Destremau, in 18th and 19th place respectively as they completed the mighty Vendée Globe. A total of 29 competitors set off last November from Les Sables D’Olonne and only 18 of these were able to finish.
The Vendée Globe, the longest non-stop single-handed sailing race, engenders a huge amount of passion and a very loyal following. The race village prior to the start saw 1100 accredited journalists and those following on Facebook number over a quarter of a million. The dramatic start was watched by a million viewers and crowds turned out despite the winter weather to greet each finisher as they arrived back in port. In total, the organisers recorded 2,250,000 visitors in Les Sables d’Olonne between the start and the finish of this eighth edition of the race.
Participants are obliged to justify their competence and boat preparation by completing the race’s tough qualifying requirements. Last year’s Calero Solo Transat offered an opportunity to first-timers get ahead of the pack and qualify to win one of the remaining places in the Vendée Globe by completing the first min. 2500nm single-handed transatlantic races of the season. After an exciting and eventful race, assisted by the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife and the fantastic team in Newport Shipyard, the first Calero Solo Transat delivered a 100% successful result for each sailor.
It was especially thrilling then to see each of these brave skippers finish the Vendée Globe, each having overcome individual challenges to make it to the start and then proceed to content with a series of almost insurmountable difficulties during the race.
Pieter Heerema, whose experience of solo sailing was relatively limited, embraced an additional burden with a hi-tech new generation foiler and all of the accompanying sophisticated and convoluted systems – which at times, proved to be a serious hindrance. Sébastien Destremau, a proven racing sailor was also unused to being alone at sea and competed in the oldest boat in the fleet, which he and his shore-team had prepared on a tiny budget. Swiss Alan Roura, full of charm and panache and at 23, the youngest ever competitor, seemed comparatively at ease on board although the almost unendurable hardship of the inhospitable southern ocean seemed to take its toll on everyone. The world watched as the racers railed, laughed and despaired and in each case, their arrival was emotional and heartfelt.
Two other competitors also spent time training from Puerto Calero: Alex Thomson, whose epic battle with Armel Le Cleac’h delivered news on a daily basis and Enda O’Coineen, whose delightfully engaging media coverage raised a lot of laughs. Alarming reports arrived on New Year’s Day however when it transpired that caught in a series of gusts, nearly 200 miles SE of New Zealand, Enda had lost his rig. A skilled and efficient response allowed him to secure the boat and with a makeshift sail he slowly made for land. Having sailed a very competitive race, this was a huge blow although it is understood that Enda intends to go on to complete the single-handed world circuit this winter, inspiring support for the Atlantic Youth Trust.
It was a pleasure and an honour to be part of this adventure and enjoy the chance to meet each of these accomplished and brave sailors. On behalf of Calero Marinas, we wish them the very best for their next adventures!