Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe - Rounding off 2022 with at least as much pride as in 2014
by Giancarlo Pedote 28 Oct 2022 07:54 PDT
Giancarlo Pedote on Prysmian Group © Eloi Stichelbaut
After making the delivery trip from Lorient to Saint Malo in boisterous conditions and then taking part in the grand IMOCA parade, Giancarlo Pedote tied his 60-foot IMOCA to the dock in Bassin Duguay-Trouin, at the heart of the corsair city, late yesterday afternoon.
In so doing, the skipper of Prysmian Group has rediscovered the typical buzz and magic of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, which he first experienced some eight years ago, as a competitor in the Class40 category. This debut performance left him with fond memories of the race and in particular the satisfaction of a job well done. This year, the Italian sailor hopes to complete the 3,542-mile course having given his very best once again.
In recent years, Giancarlo Pedote has certainly racked up the miles, particularly so when he circumnavigated the world within the context of the Vendée Globe, yet his debut performance in the legendary Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, in 2014, remains a very special part of his journey.
"At the time, it was like being struck by a lightning bolt. I was committed to my Mini 6.50 campaign until Les Sables - Les Açores - Les Sables in 2015 and just seven months before the event, I was offered the chance to participate in the Rhum aboard the Tyker 40 Fantastica. I had the option to refuse, fearing that I wouldn't be sufficiently prepared and hence not able to perform at my best, or I could accept the challenge on the principle that whatever happened, there are always lessons to be learned," recalls the sailor, who clearly decided to go for the second option. It's a decision he's never regretted, quite the contrary in fact.
"Today, it remains one of the races I'm most proud of," says the Florentine, despite the fact that he had a complicated start to the transatlantic passage, thwarted by technical issues.
"The very first night I had to stop. And for good reason too as the boat lacked preparation due to the short turnaround. Despite that, I managed to dig deep mentally and set sail again and focus on the race. I discovered some inner strength that I didn't know I had. At the back of the fleet initially, I gradually managed to pick off my rivals one by one and finished in 10th place thanks to a very fine strategy," explained the skipper of Prysmian Group.
Staying focused on the essentials
Naturally, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then and the sailor has continued to rack up experience. This same experience means he can set sail on this 12th edition of the Rhum with real confidence.
"Competing in a transatlantic race - double-handed or singlehanded - has, dare I say it, almost become 'routine' at this time of year. As such, I've gained in confidence, which means that I feel increasingly relaxed at the start of events. I know there will be a very festive atmosphere in Saint Malo every day between now and the start, on 6 November, but I'm not losing sight of the fact that what's important to me is what happens between Brittany and Guadeloupe. I want to remain fully focused on that, without worrying too much about the rest of it. To my mind, the key thing is to do my job and do it well," explains Giancarlo, who has once again had the chance to validate a great many technical details in the bracing conditions of his recent training sessions and during the delivery trip to Saint Malo.
Making the most of the weapons at his disposal
"The boat is impeccable. There is just the odd detail that needs tweaking. As a result, I can begin to really immerse myself in the course. It's still a little early to dissect the weather, but it will soon become part of my daily pre-race activities, in addition to some light fitness sessions and the various meetings and briefings on the menu," notes the Italian sailor, who's already eager to get his teeth into the race.
"It's going to be a fantastic race, with a fabulous line-up! We know that at this time of year, there's a strong chance that weatherwise we'll have something meaty to deal with from the get-go. In fact, that's what is really interesting. Right now, I don't yet have all the tools to vie for the top spots in terms of outright speed, but I have the advantage of a reliable boat, which I'm very familiar with and that enables me to sail pedal to the metal without fear. As usual, I'll be giving my all too, trying not to stuff up in my strategic choices and attempting to get the boat making as fast headway as possible, whilst not overlooking any of the details," concludes Giancarlo Pedote.
Prysmian Group and Électriciens sans frontières, a partnership with strong roots This latest race further bolsters what is already a long-standing partnership between Prysmian Group and Électriciens sans frontières, an NGO championing international solidarity which, since 1986, has been fighting against inequality in terms of access to electricity and water around the world. These values of inclusion are something which Giancarlo Pedote and Prysmian Group have shared for a number of years.