Aboard his IMOCA Human Immobilier, which he affectionately nicknames "La Cigogne" (The Stork), the former restaurateur from the Ile de Ré has not only fulfilled that long cherished desire to do the race but he has lived an adventure which is so much more intense and satisfying than he ever thought possible. His Vendée Globe comes twenty years after an aborted first attempt, when as a 24 year old he had to put his dreams on ice as he could not realise the funding at the time. But now he has proven that it is never too late to achieve your ambitions. Through storms, breakdowns and moments of doubt, he held firm, driven by his perseverance and his passion for the ocean.
A former rugby player and French judo champion Cornic raced the Mini Transat first in 2001 at 21 before returning to finish 11th in 2017. That was when his desire to do the Vendée Globe really resurfaced and bit hard. And in 2020 he bought the Owen Clark designed former Spirit of Canada from Jack Bouttell and updated it with a wing mast he bought from Sam Davies and found a wardrobe of used second hand sails to get going with. And from there he steadily set about qualifying for the solo round the world race with a series of solid results on the key races.
From the first weeks of his race Antoine Cornic had to deal with hard conditions, tricky tactical choices and mechanical problems. The wind, the sea and the solitude quickly reminded him that this Vendée Globe was a tough, tough ask. One of the outstanding memories of his adventure was tearing his headsail in a violent squall at over 70 knots, followed by damage to the mainsail track in the Indian Ocean. Determined to continue his journey, he improvised a risky repair by climbing his mast for five hours near the island of Saint-Paul, in exhausting conditions. This really exemplified his resilience: for every problem he was able to find solutions to keep "La Cigogne" on the race course.
On 15 January, when he rounded Cape Horn Cornic’s emotions overflowed. Passing this mythical place represents more than just a geographical milestone: it is the symbol of a dream taking shape. "I've been waiting for this one for twenty years!" " he gushed his eyes filled with tears and his fist raised in victory. He even improvised an earring with his marker, pen echoing a tradition adopted by some sailors to mark this moment.
Sailing with passion and no pressure
Unlike many skippers seeking a performance, Cornic entered this Vendée Globe without any pressure to achieve a result. From the start his objective was clear: to complete the loop and savour the adventure in all its human and maritime dimensions.
"I like being alone, for a long time, at sea," he confided before the race. And in fact his penchant for solitude has been a major asset, allowing him to overcome moments of doubt without losing his bearings. Those around him, particularly his wife, have also played a key role in supporting him at every stage.
