Vendée Globe 20-21: Giancarlo Pedote and Prysmian Group are ready for the first big test
The first of three events that make up the 2019 race schedule for the IMOCA Globe Series, the Bermudes 1000 Race will be held from 9 to 16 May 2019. No fewer than 17 sailors will be setting sail singlehanded along the 2,000-mile course between Douarnenez and Brest in Brittany, via the legendary Fastnet lighthouse or a virtual mark offshore of the Azores archipelago. Among them, seven rookies, including Italian Giancarlo Pedote. The skipper of the 60-footer in the colours of the Prysmian Group, global leader in energy and telecom cable systems, Electriciens sans frontières is a French international NGO and registered charity will make the most of the opportunity to trial his new steed in real conditions, get his bearings on-board in race mode, as well as rack up some precious miles with a view to selection for the Vendée Globe 2020-2021.
“I’m happy to be back out on the water!” admits Giancarlo Pedote, who’s preparing for his first major meeting on the IMOCA circuit, barely two months after officially taking possession of his boat, former St Michel – Virbac, the foiling monohull with which Jean-Pierre Dick completed the last edition of the Vendée Globe in 4th position. “Since 1 March, we’ve spared no effort. Launching a new project, putting together a new team… all that takes time and energy. We’re in a race against the clock so we’re going about things in a reasonable manner. Our watchword: simplicity. Consequently, the idea is to try to have as minimalist a job list as possible and not to juggle too many things at once so that each element can be dealt with quickly,”explains the skipper of Prysmian Group, who knows that this Bermudes 1000 Race is coming up a bit quickly, but is also well aware that it’s a good way to make big inroads into his project preparation.
Learning and completing, not to mention racing
“The race start this afternon at 5A.M. That means we have to be ready and get ourselves into a ‘Vendée Globe' configuration right now, which isn’t such a bad thing”, explains the Italian sailor, who will be forced to really put himself to the test over the solo 2,000-mile sea passage. “It’s a good format, added to which there’s a fair amount of breeze forecast along the course. We’ll see how things play out, but in any case, it promises to be an enjoyable little jaunt, especially with 17 of us out on the water. It’s going to be an interesting first big test, particularly with regards to life aboard and the communication tools. It’ll also be a good trial run to play around a bit with the autopilot and focus on the sails and manœuvres”, adds Giancarlo, who’s also counting on the competition to amass a bunch of miles with a view to selection for the Vendée Globe 2020-2021. “In this regard, my main aim is really to complete the race and demonstrate good seamanship according to the weather forecast and my knowledge of the boat to date. I’m still in the discovery phase and I want to go about things in the right order, without being too greedy, because with this type of machine, you can quickly start damaging gear. For all that, I remain a competitor through and through and I want to play the racing game as much as possible.”
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