Lionel Lemonchois wins the Route du Rhum

Lionel Lemonchois after smashing the Route du Rhum race record Route du Rhum

Lionel Lemonchois after smashing the Route du Rhum race record © Route du Rhum

Lionel Lemonchois quotes from a press conference, 8:30 AM - French time - in Pointe à Pitre:

Lionel Lemonchois: Because of the weather conditions we had, we sailed really close to the direct route, that might explain why we cut the record of Laurent Bourgnon by that many days (minus 4 days, 15 hours, 22 minutes).

Strategically, as soon as we touched the first low pressure system, we’ve been reaching, under the route of the rest of the fleet. When you are reaching if you are under, you are in the front. In addition to that, Gitana XI was perfectly responding to what I was asking her to do.

I never felt stress on Gitana XI. Even my 5 days of qualification were pure happiness and I was sailing on a boat I did not know.

The only scary moment during the race was when I was taken by surprise by a wind swing. The boat went up really high, but that was my fault. I released evertything at once and waited.
Even under 35 knots in a bit of sea I never had the feeling to be in danger. I took the second reef in the mainsail one time, and I immediately felt it was not necessary.

Each time I slept, I had the feeling that I was conscious, which was a weird feeling. When you sail single-handedly, you must manage your sleeping time very well, and that’s one of the most important things. I never had the feeling I was over my limits or exhausted, and the fact I was leading might have helped also.

Qoutes from:
Roland Jourdain / Sill et Veolia: He is the perfect representative of what a sailor is, and is somehow atypical in the way he behaves. He is free as a person and in the way he thinks.

Pascal Bidégorry / Banque Populaire: He was certainly the most determined of all of us. He must have had the conviction since the start that he could not be beaten. He says what he thinks. He is a sailor, so no compromise. He is the kind of person who enjoys being on boats, he feels well on them, whatever the conditions. I do not feel any bitterness. It is good that he is the person who cut the line.

Thomas Coville / Sodeb’O: The skippers will be unanymously happy that he wins. That’s the victory of those who believe in beautifull human stories. He represents freedom and he was the strongest. I have a lot of respect for him and I do not feel any bitterness.


The Numbers
New record / Lionel Lemonchois (Gitana XI) : 7d 17h 19’ 6 '
Arrival time : 6h21m06 (French time) on Monday Oct 6, 2006

Former record / Laurent Bourgnon (Primagaz) : 12d 08h 41'06'

Time difference : 4 days, 15 hours, 22 minutes

Speed average : 19,11 knots
Distance sailed : 3798 miles

The second finisher, Pascal Bidégorry, crossed the finish line in Banque Populaire 5:27:07 PM (French Time) in an elapsed time of 8d 4h 25' 7'

Distance sailed to the goal : 3835 miles
Average speed : 18,03 knots

Gap with Lionel Lemonchois (Gitana XI) : 11h06'1' who sailed 3798 miles