Logo

Here we have a happy - although tired from his last day sailing and going up his IMOCA mast - sailor setting foot Thursday at Pointe-à-Pitre after an epic Route du Rhum – Destination. It was audacious and full of lessons for the next steps of his Vendée Globe program. "The more mistakes you make, the more you learn! And I learned a lot!", summed up Louis with humor.  "If I had to do it again, I would do it going further! Anyway I'm happy about this race: it's a good training for the Vendée Globe !"

The Fives skipper crossed the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe finish line this Thursday 24th of November at 7h34m07s PM. He ranked 27th. He won't make history with this ranking, but the Norman fulfilled his main goal: gather qualification miles for the 2024 solo world tour.

And more than anything, his positive & fighting mindset will only remember the lessons from the Northern face of the Atlantic.

Happy, slightly upset and tired

How do you feel?

Louis Duc, skipper Imoca Fives – Lantana Environnement: "It's a mixed bag... I'm happy, slightly upset and quite tired. The last day was particularly demanding. It's a good training for the Vendée Globe, but it worn me well. I stayed an hour in the mast with cutters and knives...
Then, the day was still awesome. We went back to a "regatta mode" with maneuvers, local effects to manage, highs and lows, crossing a buoy... many contestants just hate this island circuit: I found it interesting and quite intense! Even more so after sailing undersailed"

I was correct in my strategic choices

What are the great lessons you'll remember from this transatlanctic?

Louis Duc, skipper Imoca Fives – Lantana Environnement: "The more mistakes you make, the more you learn! So I learned a lot!

The first one is to never let yourself be influenced by others: when I saw I was the only one taking the North option, it got me inside... I didn't push fully my strategy and the oceanic ridge got me. It's a shame, it was a wonderful opportunity. There was somethig to do, and I jinxed it. I'm not disappointed, but upset.
Sébastien Marsset (11th on general ranking and 1st drift boat) did a wonderful race, he played the same strategy as I, however slightly later and with more will. It payed off. It reassuring me that I was right with my strategical choices"

Go further with the technical preparation

Louis Duc, skipper Imoca Fives – Lantana Environnement: "The second teaching is the boat's technical readiness. We thought we were ready, but we have to go further. The kit must resist conditions for a longer time without failing. Just one thing breaking adds another broken stuff to deal with and from there on, it's snowballing. I'm going to reevaluate my ways here as I know it's means the end of the race on a Vendée Globe."

A bit more in the technical preparation

So no regrets, only wishes and a to-do list that keeps growing?

Louis Duc, skipper Imoca Fives – Lantana Environnement: "That's right! If I could go back, I would go further. I had several times 40 – 45 knots at sea, those weren't the best conditions. I understand foilers not going there, but IMOCAs and Class40 are made to go into the 40 knots.

Anyway, no regrets whatsoever and happy to have done it. I'll consider it bonus points for our technical preparation!"

Louis and his team, Louise Duval and Louis Guimard, will clean and repair everything before their next transatlantic toward Normandy in a few days.

Fives, your partner for a more virtuous industry

For over 200 years, the Group has designed the breakthrough solutions and technologies that make industry what it is. From the first railways to the Eiffel Tower, through the spatial conquest, Fives always spearheaded the industry of the future. Pioneering decarbonization, the Group is an unconditional partner of the industry's energy transition. Through digitization, the promotion of a circular economy and the development of new processes and new energy sources, Fives puts its technological leadership to its customers' service.
www.fivesgroup.com

Next article

D-Day!