The Vendée Arctic offshore race was stopped at the gates of Iceland. In question: the raging storm which endangers the skippers. So it’s Charlie Dalin who was crowned winner this Sunday.
Arcachon skipper Arnaud Boissières on Mie Câline has decided to retire about forty miles from the new finish line. “Abandonment as a precaution” explains “Cali” who had announced the day before that he was sailing in winds of more than 60 knots.
“For more than 24 hours we have been dealing with particularly violent meteorological phenomena which have followed one another. Sometimes in more than 60 knots, the situation was very tense. I did everything possible to preserve the boat but this morning I made the decision to retire so as not to further damage my equipment. It’s a difficult decision to make, a few miles from the new finish line decided last night by the Race Direction. But it’s the choice of a careful sailor above all. I will now return to Les Sables d’Olonne aboard La Mie Câline with caution and safety and learn from these last days at sea to come back stronger, still ambitious and with as much passion.”