2016 Vendée Globe – Bertrand de Broc to compete for the fourth time

by Vendee Globe on 15 May 2015 2016 Vendée Globe – He had thought about handing over his boat to a younger racer, but Bertrand de Broc will, in fact, be competing aboard the Finot-Conq designed boat on which he finished in ninth place in 2012/2013 after 92 days at sea. After carrying out some major updates to his 60-foot boat, Bertrand hopes to shave a week off his last race time. He tells us about his preparation and tells us openly how he feels about foils and the IMOCA circuit.

You hesitated about competing in your fourth Vendée Globe. What led you to change your mind?

Bertrand de Broc: “It’s true that when I got back from the last Vendée Globe, I didn’t really feel like doing it again. My project involved giving support to a younger competitor. But my new partner wanted me to take part and offered me the right conditions to sail in the race for a fourth time. It’s an honour for me to feel such support. I have a decent budget, which should allow me to run a team with four or five people and do something good.”

This budget is going to allow you to fine tune your Finot-Conq designed boat that was built back in 2007…

BdB: “Exactly. Between now and the Vendée Globe, the boat will really go through a lot of changes. The general idea is to save weight and get more speed giving the impression that I’m on a new boat. During the first piece of work going up to late July 2015, we shall carry out a general refit and simplify the deck hardware. At the end of the year after the Transat Jacques Vabre, MACFS will go back in the yard to have her rudder system changed, receive some new sails and maybe a brand new mast. If we have the time and money, we’ll also work on the keel. We shall be beginning with a solid base, as the hull is sturdy. The 60-footer has already completed three round the world voyages (two Vendée Globes and one Barcelona World Race). It’s up to us to make the required changes within the budget we have at our disposal.”

“If you want to fly, try a multihull”

Are you thinking about fitting foils?

BdB: “No, I’m not interested in foils. My boat wasn’t designed for that. These appendages cost a lot and will require a lot of work to get them set up. We don’t even know whether they will work. I have got nothing against technology, except when it leads to a selection by money and is reserved for an elite few. By making too many changes too quickly, we risk seeing a wide gap open up between the very good boats coming out of the yards and the current IMOCAs. What we need to do is get everyone moving forward together… People are getting excited about the foils, but they aren’t much use on a monohull. If you want to fly, try a multihull! I was won over by the Cup, as the race is on from start to finish and it is spectacular. But in the Vendée Globe, no one will be watching these boats on their foils in the Southern Ocean. I got the impression that that they didn’t know what to get the sailors to say, so created a buzz around this.”

Do you think we are talking too much about technology and not enough about the men?

BdB: “Yes. The Vendée Globe needs to talk about things other than the technology. The matter of performance only interests a small group of people. What interests the general public is the fight between the competitors, the human aspect. It’s not down to chance that Tanguy de Lamotte and Alessandro di Bendetto attracted so much interest in the last Vendée Globe.”

What result are you going to aim for in 2016/2017?

BdB: “The line-up isn’t yet complete, so I prefer to give you a time rather than a place. I was honest with my sponsor: I won’t be setting incredible records. The aim is to improve on my 2012-2013 performance by a week by finishing in 85 days or fewer if possible. If I manage to get all the work done I have planned, teh boat will be faster and I will be able to reach that goal. There will probably be a race within the race with the other boats from 2008. I also intend to have a great story to tell.”

What is your race programme leading up to the Vendée Globe?

BdB: “My first race will be the Rolex Fastnet Race in August. Then, I’ll be competing in the Azimut Trophy in late September in Lorient. The main goal this season will be the Transat Jacques Vabre (start on 25th October from Le Havre) with a co-skipper I haven’t yet chosen. In May-June 2016, I will be attempting to beat the solo North Atlantic monohull record (held by Marc Guillemot with a time of eight days and 21 hours, editor’s note). That will be great way to train before the Vendée Globe.”

“The IMOCA circuit should be more than just the Vendée Globe.”

How go you feel about the general IMOCA circuit?

BdB: “There’s something missing and things could be so much better. In early April, I was in Marseille for the SNIM. I could feel that people down there wanted to see our boats. So why not create an event in the Mediterranean or add one on top of the existing races? For me, that’s much more important than talking about foils… The IMOCAs must not spend all their time shut away in the shed and should be out there so people can see them. We’re lucky to have the budget and to be able to sail on these magnificent boats. It’s up to us racers to deal with that. With teams building 60-foot boats just for the Vendée Globe, it’s not that good for our class.”

You’re now 54. How do you feel about the fine results from other sailors in their fifties (Loïck Peyron’s win in the Rhum and Bernard Stamm and Jean Le Cam dominating the Barcelona)?

BdB: ‘That doesn’t surprise me. The youngsters learn quickly, but they don’t pull it off every time. We don’t have dozens of Gabarts or even half a dozen. Thanks to our experience, we plan ahead and take good care of the equipment. We also have a lot of experience concerning the building of these boats. And we’ve got a tale to tell. When Jean Le Cam tells his stories, everyone listens.”

Bertrand de Broc and the Vendée Globe
- 2012/2013 : Votre nom autour du monde, ninth after 92 days at sea.
- 1996/1997 : Votre nom autour du monde, retired (capsized).
- 1992/1993 : Groupe LG, retired (keel problem).