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03.05.2010
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15.05.2010 Back to news

Groupe Bel completes the fleet in Saint Barts

Kito de Pavant and Sébastien Audigane crossed the finish line of this year's Transat AG2R-La Mondiale at 1457 (French time). At dawn on their 26th day at sea, the Groupe Bel Figaro closed the race, where four years earlier they had been the winners*. A collision with a whale, the loss of the use of a rudder, a pitstop in the Canaries, restarting the race, and a gamble on a northerly route which ultimately led them to be totally becalmed for five days in the middle of the Atlantic... It was certainly a tough race for t hispair, who were race favourites at the start in Concarneau.

In an act of pure sportsmanship, Richard Lédée and Christophe Lebas, having reached St Barts a few hours earlier than Groupe Bel, had waited for their fellow competitors in order to cross the finish line together. Fine men, these sailors!

Obviously this is not the result the team was aiming for. Kito and Seb have numerous transatlantic races to their names, and had prepared thoroughly for this race. They clearly demonstrated their talent during the first week of the race. However, as the skipper wrote in his last message from the boat: “There are highs and lows in the life of a sailor, and in life in general, I might add. And one thing that should always be remembered in sport and especially in offshore racing is a good dose of modesty.”

This modesty was amply demonstrated by race winner Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) with his words to Libération after the finish: “You have to put your win into context. It is a fleeting reality. (…) For example, Kito will finish in last place because circumstances have dictated as such. And that does not make him any less of a seaman, or a talented sailor… offshore racing can be cruel” Thank you Armel, and congratulations to you and Fabien on your flawless race!

What will we take away from this?
This morning, as the sun was rising over the Caribbean, Kito concluded his final report from on board with these words: “What will we take away from these 25 days at sea? A great partnership between Seb and I, despite the setbacks and the reassurance that our fan club has been as superb as ever!” In fact, ever since their decision in Tenerife to finish the race despite being behind the fleet, the pair have received numerous messages of encouragement from all corners, and particularly from Groupe Bel, who remain highly enthusiastic and loyal.

No time for rest
It is not only the good things which come to an end, and this rather long transatlantic race is over. It is time to look to tomorrow. And tomorrow, Kito will be off running again, this time to catch a plane for Paris and then Lisbon, to be reunited with his Open 60 Groupe Bel and his shore team, in order to spend some time with the Portuguese subsidiary of his sponsor.
As of next week, this sailor will be once again… guess what… at sea. With the aim of participating in the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale in the autumn, Kito will sail solo in the direction of the Azores. These sailors are never satisfied with their performance!

*Kito de Pavant and Pietro D’Ali (ITA) won the 2006 edition of the TransatAG2R on Groupe Bel.

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