All news

Benjamin Dutreux is back home, the return of Captain Redbeard

His channel was very different…very, very different. After being forced to head for shelter in La Rochelle last Sunday due to a big storm, as did Clarisse Crémer, today the Vendée’s own Benjamin Dutreux finally enjoyed a triumphant return into the Les Sables d’Olonne channel. Tens of thousands of well-wishers turned out to give Dutreux a massive welcome back.

LES SABLES D'OLONNE, FRANCE - JANUARY 31, 2025 : GUYOT Environnement - Water Family skipper Benjamin Dutreux (FRA)) is celebrating with champagne at pontoon after taking 10th place in the Vendee Globe, on January 31, 2025 in Les Sables d'Olonne, France - (Photo by Lloyd Images / Alea)
LES SABLES D'OLONNE, FRANCE - 31 JANVIER 2025 : GUYOT Environnement - Le skipper de Water Family Benjamin Dutreux (FRA) fête au champagne au ponton sa 10ème place dans le Vendée Globe, le 31 janvier 2025 aux Sables d'Olonne, France - (Photo by Lloyd Images / Alea)

“I’m from Les Sables d’Olonne, I’m from Vendée, I have so many dreams of this channel because last time it was Covid. Now, once again, I still can’t get home safely!” he said last Monday morning as he arrived down the coast in La Rochelle. 
But today Dutreux was afforded a most spectacular welcome home as befits a local skipper which finished in the Top 10 for the second time in a row.

There be red beards

The Vendée public gathered on both sides of the channel many sporting a red beard to honour  the local sailor, to celebrate his return. The turn in the channel was madness and indeed Dutreux  got off his IMOCA for a a few moments to share the madness. 

 

 

2024 was a completely different adventure from 2020. I didn't experience the same race, nor the same story. Technically, the boat was very different 4 years ago, and the adventure took over a bit. It was more of a race at the heart of an expedition. This time, I really experienced a race, surpassing myself on a sporting level, with the aim of achieving a good result. The boats are going faster, we are almost becoming pilots. The sporting level of the field has progressed enormously, and I am much prouder of this result than that of four years ago.

Benjamin Dutreux
GUYOT ENVIRONNEMENT - WATER FAMILY
LES SABLES D'OLONNE, FRANCE - JANUARY 31, 2025 : GUYOT Environnement - Water Family skipper Benjamin Dutreux (FRA)) is celebrating in the channel after taking 10th place in the Vendee Globe, on January 31, 2025 in Les Sables d'Olonne, France - (Photo by Lloyd Images / Alea)
LES SABLES D'OLONNE, FRANCE - JANUARY 31, 2025 : GUYOT Environnement - Water Family skipper Benjamin Dutreux (FRA)) is celebrating in the channel after taking 10th place in the Vendee Globe, on January 31, 2025 in Les Sables d'Olonne, France - (Photo by Lloyd Images / Alea)

He wanted to thank his team, his partners and the Water Family association whose colours he is wearing for his second consecutive Vendée Globe. He also had words for his boat, which has become a real partner in this performance 

 

 

I have a more complicated relationship with this boat than with the old one, with which I had an almost fusional bond. Let's say that with this one, it's more worked. I remember, in the South of New Zealand, I was close-hauled in really "boat-breaking" conditions. I said to her, "Come on, my old girl, only three more days to hold on, then it's downwind."

Benjamin Dutreux
GUYOT ENVIRONNEMENT - WATER FAMILY
LES SABLES D'OLONNE, FRANCE - JANUARY 31, 2025 : GUYOT Environnement - Water Family skipper Benjamin Dutreux (FRA)) is celebrating in the channel after taking 10th place in the Vendee Globe, on January 31, 2025 in Les Sables d'Olonne, France - (Photo by Olivier Blanchet / Alea)
LES SABLES D'OLONNE, FRANCE - JANUARY 31, 2025 : GUYOT Environnement - Water Family skipper Benjamin Dutreux (FRA)) is celebrating in the channel after taking 10th place in the Vendee Globe, on January 31, 2025 in Les Sables d'Olonne, France - (Photo by Olivier Blanchet / Alea)

Skippers linked to this article

Benjamin Dutreux

GUYOT ENVIRONNEMENT - WATER FAMILY
Benjamin Dutreux

Share this article

Latest news

Flash

Entry into the channel at 1430hrs UTC (1530hrs local) on Saturday for Clarisse Crémer !

Marais

Blue carbon. Why coastal salt marshes?

While the skippers are now progressively finishing into Les Sables d’Olonne, the start and finish port for the Vendée Globe. Few people appreciate that the nearby Olonne marshes form a veritable laboratory for blue carbon. Coastal salt marshes are low-lying, gently sloping lands found along…

Océan
RACE, JANUARY 30, 2025 : Photo sent from the boat La Mie Caline during the Vendee Globe sailing race on January 30, 2025. (Photo by skipper Arnaud Boissières) Dismasted boat is using a LibertyKite

A new dawn, a new day

Another new day has dawned on the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe. As the 81st night at sea comes to an end and any one of the 20 skippers still at sea who harboured hopes of getting round within the time set by Jules Verne have to readjust their timings today. For the skipper who is in next,…
LES SABLES D'OLONNE, FRANCE - JANUARY 30, 2025 : Initiatives-Coeur skipper Sam Davies (GBR) is celebrating with champagne after taking 13th place in the Vendee Globe, on January 30, 2025 in Les Sables d'Olonne, France - (Photo by Lloyd Images / Alea)

Sam Davies: "I had a total blast, I have zero regrets!”

Sam Davies, she of the seemingly boundless energy and enthusiasm, was running on fumes this morning when her tech team took over Initiatives Coeur. She feel asleep immediately, she told us in her press conference. And what little rest she managed to snatch this morning sustained her through her…
LES SABLES D'OLONNE, FRANCE - JANUARY 30, 2025 : Malizia - Seaexplorer skipper Boris Herrmann (GER) is photographed after taking 12th place in the Vendee Globe, on January 30, 2025 in Les Sables d'Olonne, France - (Photo by Olivier Blanchet / Alea)

Boris Herrmann: "This experience will make me stronger"

It was a happy and relieved Boris Herrmann who visibly enjoyed his return up the Le Sables d’Olonne channel, who loved and cherished his reunion with his loved ones and his team. And facing the international media’s cameras and microphones, the German skipper talked about the hard times. His race…
Flash

Arnaud Boissières’ La Mie Câline is dismasted

LORIENT, FRANCE - JUNE 28, 2024 : Initiatives-Coeur skipper Sam Davies(GBR) is pictured on June 28, 2024 off Lorient, France - Photo by Yann Riou / polaRYSE - Polaryse / Initiatives-Coeur

Sam Davies, 13th in the Vendée Globe 2024

It was with a huge measure of relief and satisfaction that French based Brit Sam Davies (Initiatives-Coeur) emerged from more than 48 hours of hellish weather to cross the finish line of the Vendée Globe in 13th place at 10:15 hrs UTC today. Her elapsed time for the race is 80 days 22 hrs 13 mins…
LORIENT, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 : Malizia - Seaexplorer skipper Boris Herrmann (GER) is pictured training on September 26, 2024 in Lorient, France - Photo by Jean-Marie Liot / Malizia - Seaexplorer

GERMANY’S BORIS HERRMANN (MALIZIA - SEAEXPLORER) FINSISHES12th

In rough seas and big winds off Les Sables d’Olonne, German solo racer Boris Herrmann (Malizia - Seaexplorer) completed the Vendée Globe tonight (Wednesday) at 2218hrs (UTC) to take 12th place. For Herrmann it concludes his second back-to-back challenge on the legendary solo non stop race round the…