"It's good to be ashore, it's moving around a bit, it's rocking a lot because this boat is moving around a lot.”
28.05.2016
"It's good to be ashore, it's moving a bit, in fact, it's pitching a lot because this boat moves a lot."
He wanted to sail "the old-fashioned way" in the wake of Eric Tabarly, to relive "the sensations of those days". At the helm of the ketch "Pen Duick II", Loïck Peyron was forced to turn back almost halfway between Plymouth and New York, due to a chainplate problem. After 25 days at sea, the sailor from La Baule returned to dry land this Friday in Le Pouliguen.
Source : Le Télégramme
- You've just spent 25 days at sea, but the port of arrival isn't what you'd hoped for. Not too disappointed to have been forced to turn back?
Already, it's good to be ashore, it's moving a bit, in fact, it's pitching a lot because this boat moves a lot. Of course I'm a bit disappointed. The idea was to go all the way. It's always a bit disappointing when you don't get to the end of a story, but in terms of duration, it was more or less the same thing. In terms of objective, it's not quite the same, but I couldn't go any further with this boat.
- Was it really impossible to go on?
Yes, it was possible to go on. The proof is that I had to come back. Even though I was sailing downwind at the start, I then had to sail upwind in really nasty conditions, both on the way out and on the way back. The weather conditions were really, really bad, with lots of seas, wind in all directions and, above all, upwind sailing. It was hard work. But my main objective was to respect the boat and get her back to port. When the chainplate ripped off the bow, I thought it might be a sign. I didn't have any weather information, but I'd just been told that it had been Dantesque afterwards. I could see it because everything I didn't take in the nose, I took in the buttocks on the way in. So continuing would have been a bit of a challenge".
- The boat has suffered. And the skipper, what's his condition?
Apart from the chainplate problem, Pen Duick II is in perfect condition. There's also a problem with the rudder, which has been squeaking for ten days. I'm going to dive tomorrow to have a look at it, I'm afraid I've twisted the bit because I've been laid up twice in a row by a big breaker. As for me, even if I was disappointed at the time, I'm fine. I'm happy to be back here in Le Pouliguen with my friends from the Yacht Club and ENV Quiberon, who came to see me off Belle-Ile this morning.
Read the full interview©
Le Télégramme
