Oliver Heer: "I have the feeling that this is the beginning of something even bigger!"

I am happy, excited and relieved at the same time. The last few days have been particularly trying I had strong winds of 45 to 50 knots at Cape Finisterre, followed by this dead calm in the Bay of Biscay. I had the impression that Les Sables d’Olonne was just an illusion moving away from me on the horizon, and that I would never get there! But now I am here, and it is an incredible feeling, the best reward! I am tired, but my heart is beating wildly. These three months have been intense, and today, there is nothing more beautiful than being back to celebrate this adventure with my family, friends and partners. This journey has been long. 99 days is a long time… but I am here, in good shape, as is my boat. It is mission accomplished! My goal was to finish the race cleanly, to complete this round the world race without a hitch. Every time I took a risk, I reminded myself of this priority. 

I finished this Vendée Globe in 29th place. I would have liked to finish with the group just in front of me, alongside a sailor like Sébastien Marsset, who had a boat similar to mine. But that doesn't take away from the pride and happiness I feel at this moment. Today, I am the happiest man in the world! I am satisfied with my race. My number one priority was to finish. During the first third of the race, given the conditions, I almost almost told myself that the Vendée Globe was feeling too easy. But then, the Indian Ocean proved very intense, with a series of depressions and constant swell. Then, in the Pacific, I experienced two key moments. The first was when I entered an anticyclone: a real windless period when I was stuck for five days. Sailing in 40 or 50 knots is stressful, but finding yourself without a breath of wind is just as much. The second was when I found myself very close to an iceberg. I admit, it scared me. It's funny to see how the Vendée Globe is divided into four major sections. After the Indian Ocean, I thought the hardest part was behind me. Once in the Pacific, I was convinced that this time, it was really over. And yet, after passing Cape Horn and returning to the Atlantic, that's where I finally encountered the most demanding conditions.
 

Yes, these events have strengthened my team and me. It really wasn’t easy to get to the Vendée Globe, but it had two positive consequences. Firstly, it forced us to improve the reliability of the boat. Secondly, it proved how determined we were to be at the start. In hindsight, I wouldn’t change anything.
 

That’s a difficult question to answer. What I can say is that I experienced some incredibly strong moments, but also some very complicated passages. I really can’t point to one moment that was more memorable than another,  but sailing 23,000 miles without stopping is proof that there was real harmony between my boat and me, despite the small problems encountered along the way. Considering the budget and the time we had to prepare, I think we achieved a great performance.
 

It was never a problem for me. The word solitude has a negative connotation in French, but in German, it is rather perceived positively and in fact there is not such a word. At sea, I was happy, I felt good. I had also worked before the race with a mental trainer, which helped me a lot to understand this aspect.

 

Give me a week or two, then ask my wife! (Laughs)

I’ve only just arrived, so it’s a bit early to say. But one thing is for sure: I had an extremely positive experience in this Vendée Globe. I thought that finishing the race would mark the end of a long project, and in the end, I feel like it’s the start of something even bigger. I’d be very happy to be at the start in 2028!