Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Oliver Heer finishes brutal Transat CIC race, keeping his Vendée Globe dream alive

by Oliver Heer Ocean Racing 17 May 2024 10:28 PDT
Oliver Heer at Transat CIC Race © West Media / Oliver Heer Ocean Racing

In a display of extraordinary resilience, Swiss skipper Oliver Heer has triumphantly clawed his way across the finish line oft he Transat CIC race, keeping his dream of participation in the Vendée Globe 2024 alive.

Crossing the finish line at 00:19 (Central European Time) on Friday17th May, Swiss Sailor Oliver Heer finally completed the solo transatlantic race in 18 days, 10 hours, 49 minutes and 32 seconds. Heer's triumph is a demonstration of resilience and tenacity, pushing both performance and human endurance boundaries to their limit.

The Transat CIC, notorious for its punishing course and unforgiving weather, proved true to its reputation for Heer. After a promising start, disaster struck on day six. A catastrophic autopilot failure triggered an uncontrolled gybe in heavy seas. Heer's boat was slammed upside down, and pinned down by waves, leaving him with minor injuries and his vessel in disarray. Sails were damaged and electrical systems were fried, leaving Heer unable to use his navigation and communication systems, without an autopilot or water-maker.

Heer entered "survival mode" for the next 24 hours. Through sheer determination he wrestled control of his battered boat and jury-rigged a temporary wiring solution from his solar panels, restoring limited power and a glimmer of hope. Yet, the relentless challenges continued. Heer spent several frustrating days becalmed in a freezing fog bank, completely stuck and unable to make any progress towards the finish.

When the wind finally returned, it was a ferocious30-40 knots. Without sun to power the autopilot Heer was forced to hand-steer through the days and nights. Unable to sleep or eat, Heer was close to exhaustion, his physical and mental reserves pushed to the limit.

"This wasn't a race in the end," Heer reflected, "It was a battle, a fight to get both myself and my boat to the finish line safely. But more than that, it was a valiant effort to secure my position in the Vendée Globe, which is my ultimate goal. Finishing the Transat CIC to log the miles for the Vendée Globe selection is a crucial step towards that."

With a vision to become the first Swiss German to compete in the Vendee Globe, Heer's fight keeps this dream alive. Heer is one of 41 skippers vying for just 40 coveted spots on the start line of this iconic, solo, non-stop circumnavigation. The miles earned in The Transat CIC keep Heer off the bottom of the selection table.

However, for Heer, pursuing your passion means no time to rest. He now has less than two weeks to repair his boat and regroup before setting sail once again in New York Vendée, a return transatlantic race starting on May 29th.

Related Articles

Guirec Soudée finishes 23rd in the Vendée Globe
Soudée completes a 4yr transition from global adventurer to accomplished, respected ocean racer When he crossed the finish line at 09 18 hrs on Febuary 08th, Guirec Soudée not only secured 23rd place but the 32 year old from north Brittany completes a four year transition from global adventurer to accomplished, respected ocean racer. Posted today at 8:51 am
Vendée Globe Thursday 6th February Update
Kojiro's big decision We give you an update on Arnaud Boissières from La Mie Câline after he was dismasted, showing his progress towards the Caribbean, then Kojiro Shiraishi tells us why he made a big routing decision as he heads east towards Les Sables d'Olonne. Posted on 6 Feb
Vendée Globe Wednesday 5th February Update
There are still 11 skippers at sea racing While we've now had 22 finishers in the Vendée Globe there are still 11 skippers at sea racing. In this much later than usual daily video we get updates from Kojiro Shiraishi, Oliver Heer, take a look at the tracker, then Conrad Colman concludes our show. Posted on 5 Feb
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
If ever I needed a reminder of how varied the sport of sailing is, the past fortnight provided it If ever I needed a reminder of how varied the sport of sailing is, the past fortnight has provided it. We've seen the whole spectrum of goings on, from the superb in the Vendée Globe, to the baffling with the British America's Cup team. Posted on 4 Feb
Giancarlo Pedote interview
"The Vendée Globe is a restaurant where you don't get to choose the menu" This Tuesday at 08:34 UTC, after 85 days, 20 hours and 32 minutes at sea, Giancarlo Pedote crossed the Vendée Globe finish line offshore of Les Sables d'Olonne. Posted on 4 Feb
Warm-water racing, Vendee Globe update
Warm-water racing, plus news from the Vendee Globe and Cup worlds While February doesn't enjoy the greatest reputation as a fine sailing month for most parts of North America (ahem), the same isn't true for the Caribbean or the Sunshine State. Posted on 4 Feb
Benjamin Ferré is first daggerboard skipper
Chased all the way by the 'space fighter' Tanguy Le Turquais It will go down as one of the great battles in Vendée Globe history that featured a fun-filled but competitive "bromance" between two young French sailors who ended up finishing just 16 minutes apart. Posted on 4 Feb
Giancarlo Pedote 22nd in the Vendée Globe
His elapsed time is 85 days, 20 hours and 32 minutes After a final cold night in light winds on the Bay of Biscay, Italy's Giancarlo Pedote completed his second consecutive Vendée Globe when he crossed the finish line off Les Sables d'Olonne in 22nd place at 0834hrs today Tuesday 4th February. Posted on 4 Feb
Hublot celebrates Alan Roura's incredible tenacity
Each Vendée Globe is unique. Each race presents a new challenge. A trip around the world, a new page in history, and the constant desire to go ever further. Alan Roura and Hublot share this obsession: pushing the limits, striving for excellence, writing the future, again and again. Posted on 4 Feb
Vendée Globe Tuesday 4th February Update
Joschke, Le Cam, Colman finish overnight Overnight we had Isabelle Joschke, Jean Le Cam and Conrad Colman arrive in Les Sables d'Olonne to finish the Vendée Globe, so we start with footage and the stats for their races, and then an update from Giancarlo Pedote as he approached the line. Posted on 4 Feb
Henri-Lloyd - For the ObsessedABS25-SailWorld-1456x180-BOTTOM-01_03Selden 2020 - FOOTER