I want to thank Didier Elin and Team Plastique, as well as all the people working at Port Olona or the city of Les Sables d’Olonne and everybody who supported me. They’re the ones who made it possible for me to experience all that. This is such an amazing adventure, it’s so moving, and it’s the passionate people who make this race a unique event. When I heard of them in interviews or when I thought about them, I would get moved to tears. All the people here today, they’re a real part of the race. Receiving hundreds and possibly thousands of support messages means a lot, you have no idea. You make the Vendée Globe what it is.
Yesterday and this morning were among the toughest moments in the race, that’s the Bay of Biscay, typically. I was afraid I would break something and not make it here on time. I’m physically and mentally in great shape, better than when I left because I was sick then. I guess I’ll be sick again tonight because of all your germs!
My biggest fear was when I broke my rib in an accident. Because a rope hit me in the face, too, and I was really afraid it had torn my nose off. For a few minutes, my face was completely numb so I had no idea what had actually happened. But then I calmed down, checked in a mirror and I realised I was going to be ok.
I never pushed the boat too hard, I never even pushed her at 100% of her potential. Because the most important thing for me was to finish. The only thing that could have prevented me from finishing is a major problem with the boat or with myself. We have one of the smallest budgets in the race and yet we finished, this is amazing.
There’s more to the Vendée Globe than just a race. You get to meet so many great people and learn so much about computers, weather analysis, technical things… I would never have thought I was able to do all that.
