News
Benjamin Ferré (SKEMA 2015) finishes the Vendée Globe race in 84 days!
After 84 days of battling the oceans, Benjamin Ferré arrived in Les Sables d'Olonne on Monday 3 February. Tears of joy and adrenaline flowed as our alumnus sailed up the channel, having completed his first solo round-the-world voyage, coming 16th in the race and first among the boats without foils.
Looking exhausted and a little worse for wear, but with a smile on his face and tears of happiness streaming down his cheeks, Benjamin Ferré crossed the finish line on Monday 3 February, completing his circumnavigation of the globe in 84 days, 23 hours and 19 minutes.
The Breton savoured the unforgettable experience of sailing up the channel, even allowing himself the luxury of finishing first in the daggerboard class (older-generation IMOCA yachts), just ahead of his ultimate rival: skipper Tanguy Le Turquais. “It was magical. I felt like I'd won the Vendée Globe when I crossed the finish line. I said to myself: I've smashed the Vendée Globe,” he said with his usual spontaneity.
In a thrilling race for which he gave his all, Benjamin never lost his good humour, whether he was moved by a ballet of albatrosses in the southern seas or climbing to the top of his mast to repair a faulty part, successfully surmounting a stubborn fear of heights.
“Tears of gratitude”
In the raging seas, the protégé of Jean Le Cam (who returned the following day, on 4 February) managed to stay on course at full sail and keep his famous sailboat intact. “I’d discovered tears of joy and sadness. Now I've discovered tears of gratitude. I’m grateful to every single person who helped me get here,” he said on arrival, before singing a song with a certain Murray Head on the Vendée Globe stage.
Photo credit Anne Beauge / Alea
