Antoine Cornic: "What matters is to follow your dreams"
Today Antoine Cornic achieved much more than simply finishing his Vendée Globe he has fulfilled a dream he has had for twenty years, a success which has been driven by a burning passion and unwavering determination. Aboard his vintage IMOCA HUMAN Immobilier – the oldest boat in the fleet - he dealt with his numerous challenges race with great optimism, turning problem into an opportunity to prove his resilience.
His rounding of Cape Horn was a moment of intense emotion, symbolising the culmination of his ambition. Twenty years after a first aborted project, he has finally achieved what he had thought for a long time was going to be unattainable. His infectious enthusiasm and sincere joy show that beyond the performance, it was the human experience and going beyond his previous limits are what mattered most to him. Unlike many skippers focused on the ranking he sailed without any pressure to get a result. He raced with the one objective of living his adventure to the fullest.
Vendée Globe :
How do you feel after this finish after 96 days at sea?
There are no words to describe all this. To see so many people come to welcome me, it's incredible... When in the end, I just went around the world, just like that, for fun! (Laughs) It's extraordinary. There are my friends, my partners, so many people who made the trip to be here Thank you to them, and thank you also to the people of Les Sables who are here today as they were at the start. It's crazy, really amazing! What I remember most about this finish is this incredible energy. People are crazy... and after all, it takes a lot of slightly mad people to come out and encourage us! (Laughs)
Vendée Globe :
Did you have a lot of fun in this race?
I was so happy at sea that at the finish I told Hubert (Lemonnier, the Race Director) that the race wasn't long enough and that we should do two laps before finishing! (Laughs) I'm very happy. I'm going to do everything I can to be on this same beautiful pontoon in 2028 and relive this experience, because, frankly, it's a crazy thing! It was hard, but it was hard for everyone. The climb up the Atlantic was particularly challenging, with very strong trade winds. We felt that the boats were suffering, and we were suffering with them. Mentally, it was really intense. Fortunately, I was able to talk to Éric (Bellion) at that time, even if I'm more of the type to talk on land more than at sea. A passage around the world is no small feat. It is understandable why so few sailors have done it and succeeded. I'm thinking of Cali (Arnaud Boissières), and I'm really disappointed for him. To give up so close to the goal is terrible.
Vendée Globe :
What was the most memorable or beautiful moment of your Vendée Globe?
It's pretty crazy, but I think the most beautiful thing I've seen is the storm in the Indian Ocean. It was just amazing. The crazy thing is that no photo or video can actually make it look as magical as It was But it was strikingly beautiful! There was 85 knots of wind, a totally raging, impressive and powerful element. And yet, in the midst of this chaos, there was perfect harmony between my boat and me. He never betrayed me, he remained stable, even when the waves were very high. I really enjoyed that moment. It was an ordeal, of course, as it lasted more than two days, but it was an unforgettable experience, a real sharing with my boat. And then, when I arrived, the emotion overwhelmed me. It's hard not to cry in front of so many people, so much love, these looks, this applause... I find it completely crazy. Already, at the beginning, I thought it was crazy, but at the end, it's even stronger. On a Friday afternoon, in the rain, when many may be going out for dinner for Valentine's Day, they took the time to come and greet a sailor who is returning from a solo round the world race. It's just incredible!
Vendée Globe :
Did this experience live up to your expectations?
Yes, and much more. This Vendée Globe has left so many things unresolved that I want to go and explore again. I hope to be at the start in four years. With everything I've experienced on board, I'm already very satisfied to have completed the race in less than 100 days. I am convinced that this boat can go under the 90-day mark without difficulty. So, yes, I really want to go around the world again in 2028.
Vendée Globe :
When you had your damage on the mainsail track did you think that your race was over?
When I found myself with the piece in my hand, I wondered how I was going to fix it. Fortunately, at sea, we have time to think it over, to reflect and look for solutions. The only option I had was to stop at Saint-Paul, because working at the top of the mast with a grinder would have been far too dangerous. It took me four and a half days to get there (with no mainsail NDLR) and refine my plan of attack. Once there, I had between five and six hours of work ahead of me. It had to hold, otherwise it was game over in Australia. At that moment, I thought of all those who support me. The Atlantic was mentally taxing, but this stop in St. Paul was a real physical challenge. I wasn't really safe, with gusts reaching 40 knots. It's pretty crazy to have managed to get back on track, because it could have all ended there. It took a lot of thought to find the right solution, but it held until the end. And today, I'm incredibly happy that I succeeded.
Vendée Globe :
What do you remember from this first Vendée Globe?
Finishing a Vendée Globe is no small feat. It's a long adventure, a real ordeal. Each of us fought in our own way, in our own "category". It was an amazing experience. I want to set off again, to experience another solo round the world race. In the end, what matters is to follow your dreams, to never give up.
Vendée Globe :
The Vendée Globe in two words?
Essential and magical.
