suspected of cheating, skipper Clarisse Crémer was cleared by the jury

She was suspected of having been helped in her trajectory from land by her husband, Tanguy Le Turquais, although this is strictly prohibited in the Vendée Globe, a race without assistance.

Suspected of cheating in the 2021 Vendée Globe, skipper Clarisse Crémer was cleared by the international jury of the Vendée Globe, the sports management of Radio France learned on Monday March 4 from a source close to the matter. The information was then confirmed by the management of the Vendée Globe.

In February, the French Sailing Federation opened an investigation into alleged cheating during the last Vendée Globe in 2020-2021. Clarisse Crémer was suspected of having been helped in her trajectory from land by another sailor who happened to be her husband, Tanguy Le Turquais. “I have never cheated”proclaimed the sailor in a press release published on February 15 on social networks.

The couple was heard last Saturday by the jury, reconstituted at the request of Jean-Luc Denéchau, president of the French Sailing Federation. “The International Jury is entirely convinced that there was no misconduct on the part of Clarisse Crémer or Tanguy Le Turquais and you will understand that it is not up to me to make any comment on a decision taken by the federal sports authorityreacts Alain Leboeuf, president of the Vendée Globe who “takes note of these conclusions rendered in complete independence”.

In its decision, the jury considers that “Clarisse did not ask Tanguy for itinerary advice.” She “never followed any of Tanguy’s screenshots. They were not useful information to her. She always had better information and had time to work on her plans.” Furthermore, the jury considers that “the screenshots do not demonstrate that Clarisse received performance support.”

A “great relief” for the skipper

The jury also notes in its decision that Clarisse Crémer “asked for advice” from her husband “on his arrival intentions, but it was for safety and included the possibility of voluntarily slowing down, to avoid low tides or an arrival at night given the bad weather”. Then, “These were problems to which the race management had alerted all competitors and shore teams of the boats likely to be affected. They therefore did not receive any outside help.”

“Tanguy had sent several route options to Clarisse, on his own initiative. The international jury believes that this was not a wise or necessary thing, but admits that his intention was to obtain clarification on Clarisse’s plans rather than to advise him what to do”, also wrote the jury in its decision. So, “the allegation of misconduct by Clarisse Crémer is rejected”. It is the same for Tanguy Le Turquais.

Cleared, the skipper therefore retains her 12th place. The couple is trying to qualify for the 2024 edition of the round-the-world race. Clarisse Crémer confided in an interview with AFP her “great relief” after experiencing a “nightmare”and wished to be able “start dedicating yourself again” to his sporting project. “With Tanguy [Le Turquais] we didn’t really doubt ourselves, but it really was a nightmare these last few weeks. We have the feeling that the page will finally be able to turn”declared the navigator.