Vendée Globe - Hopefuls already winners in Les Sables-d’Olonne

by Vendee Globe on 13 Aug 2014 The two candidates hoping to compete in the Vendee Globe can share honours in the Les Sables - Azores - Les Sables race. While Nicolas Boidevezi (ImaginAlsace) dominated the second leg, the Italian Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) has come out with a comfortable lead in the overall rankings after an amazing first leg.

'Entering the harbour entrance channel in les Sables-d’Olonne as a winner is as great as winning overall!' Winner of the second leg of the les Sables – Azores - Les Sables today (Tuesday) after five days 21 hours 22 minutes and 15 seconds of sailing (average speed: 8.99 knots), Nicolas Boidevezi could not hide his pleasure. The famous harbour entrance has got the skipper from Alsace thinking, as he looks forward to competing in the next Vendée Globe… Boidevezi took the lead on the second day of the race and never relinquished it, in spite of the constant pressure from Giancarlo Pedote aboard his incredible prototype with the rounded bow.

As overall winner, the Italian skipper, who is also hoping to take part in the solo round the world race perfectly managed his significant lead over Boidevezi: a lead of around twelve hours as they set sail from Horta. For Pedote, the main thing was to arrive safe and sound with his boat in perfect condition, while ensuring overall victory. Unless there is a major upset, he will achieve that this evening. Having come close to winning the last Mini Transat, the skipper of Prysmian has gained his revenge.

Although Michele Zambelli was four hours ahead of him when they started this second leg, Nicolas Boidevezi will now take second place in the overall rankings. In the 15h UTC rankings, Zambelli was around 90 miles from the finish in les Sables, so Boidevezi has therefore clearly made up for lost time, and he can therefore be pleased with the final outcome and the work he has Vendee Globe