Jean Le Cam, Ambassador of the 2021 Bol d'Or Mirabaud
by Bol d'Or Mirabaud 12 May 2021 08:07 PDT
11-13 June 2021
French skipper Jean Le Cam © Chris Askoll
French skipper, fourth finisher and much acclaimed in the last Vendée Globe, will be present at the Société Nautique de Genève June 11 to 13 for the great annual Lake Geneva regatta.
It's official, French racer, fourth finisher and much acclaimed in the last Vendée Globe, will be the 2021 Bol d'Or Mirabaud ambassador.
King Jean, as he is affectionately nicknamed, competed in his fifth Vendée Globe, at 61 years old. He was noted for his straightforward sailing, his efficient navigation and, of course, for saving Kevin Escoffier in the South Atlantic.
"The Bol is a monument, a mythical race on a body of water that can be very demanding," he declared. "In Switzerland, you have a great sailing culture. When there's lots of wind there it can be wild! And you have so many different winds because of the terrain. Each one of them has its own little name."
Born on April 27, 1959 in Quimper (Finistère), Le Cam became a true sailing legend. Triple winner of the Solitaire du Figaro, winner of the 2015 Barcelona World Race (with Bernard Stamm), and the 2013 Jacques Vabre Transat, he has brought home innumerable victories on all kinds of boats.
Le Cam really appreciates Lake Geneva. In the 80s, he competed in 5.5m JI regattas and heats of the Lake Geneva Formule 40 circuit aboard Biscuits Cantreau. "You have excellent sailors in Switzerland... notably Bernard Stamm and Dominique Wavre whom I know well. And you are always on the leading edge of technology development. I'm really looking forward to it."
Rodolphe Gautier, president of the Bol d'Or Mirabaud organizing committee, is behind Jean Le Cam's invitation. "We are very honored by his ambassadorship," he declares. "Le Cam is foremost a great sailor, with an impressive resumé. But he's also a great person and we really look forward to welcoming him to the Société Nautique de Genève for this unique edition."