Conrad Colman: "Together we beat the bad luck charm.”
He has a smile from ear to ear. Kiwi Conrad Colman is happy to have made it to the finish of his second Vendée Globe. Almost singlehandedly he managed to set up a project, optimised and reinforced a previously unlucky boat and above all held out to finish the race. The "Crazy Kiwi" was able to enjoy the whole race and gave it everything all the way round. Eight years after finishing under jury rig Colman had the pleasure of match racing Jean Le Cam to the finish line only losing 20th by 13 minutes.
Vendée Globe :
How did this finish go?
Even in the middle of this royal battle until the finish line, I took the time to look at the sky and the stars, to take in everything I could . Doing a Vendée Globe is rare, being at the finish is even rarer and battling until the end with a Vendée Globe legend (Jean Le Cam) is the stuff of dreams . We had a small matter to settle with the weather gods over the piece but it was great. It was a very high-level battle. It’s hard to understand how you’re able to keep up the pace for so long. Every decision pushes you to do everything you can to give your best.
Vendée Globe :
You’re one of those who saw an iceberg…
What I felt….I’m not sure I can say. It was almost a journey back in time. I grew up with sea stories that described the episodes where great sailors of days gone by were confronted with icebergs. During my first round-the-world trip in a Class40, I came across an iceberg by chance. When you see one, you don’t sleep well afterwards. It’s a nightmare because there are all the lumps of ice floating around. I put up the drone as much as anything to see if the course was clear.
Vendée Globe :
It has been eight years since you competed in the Vendée Globe…
At sea, you have time to think. In fact, that’s all we do! I was lucky enough to compare it with my first participation in 2016 What changed was that I really enjoyed it. I had a lot of technical problems first time round, a short preparation and it ended with a dismasting. This time I had three years of intense preparation, we reinforced the boat, we fettled it and I am proud to be able to speak now of the fruits of our work and to keep smiling even in the storms. Each time I told myself that I was happy to be there.
Vendée Globe :
Your boat had an unlucky, chequered history until Maxime Sorel finished the Vendée Globe with it four years ago…
We both came with a certain history. But we got stronger together, we grew together. My last Vendée Globe was a traumatic battle. Both of us ‘chased the black cat’… And I am delighted!
(ndlr….in france the black cat is deemed to be an unlucky sign)
