Dorange and Le Turquais – the excitement of daggerboard racing in the Vendée Globe
by Ed Gorman / IMOCA Globe Series 4 Dec 08:31 PST
Tanguy Le Turquais – Vendée Globe © Tanguy Le Turquais / Lazare
In the past few days, the spotlight in the Vendée Globe has shifted to the newest foilers, as the leading vessels face challenging conditions in the Southern Indian Ocean. However, to the west, the daggerboard competitors sailing older boats are also experiencing an exciting race.
This morning, seasoned French skipper Jean Le Cam (Tout commence en Finistère – Armor Lux) is heading the daggerboard group in 20th overall, with compatriot Benjamin Ferré (Monnoyeur-Duo For a Job) trailing 55 miles behind him in 21st as they near the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope.
Following closely are 35-year-old French skipper Tanguy Le Turquais on Lazare, nearly 100 nautical miles behind Le Cam, and Violette Dorange, the youngest sailor to ever start the Vendée Globe, attempting this non-stop, solo, unassisted circumnavigation at just 23 years old. Onboard Devenir, Dorange is approximately 145 miles behind Le Cam, who has mentored her throughout her preparations.
Both skippers have made excellent starts to their journey and are embracing the challenges of their first Vendée Globe. Speaking to the Class as her boat, which Le Cam raced to fourth place in the last Vendée Globe, surfed downwind 420 miles west of the Cape of Good Hope, Dorange expressed the thrill of realizing her dream.
“For me, reaching the Southern Hemisphere was a remarkable milestone,” she said. “Experiencing the Doldrums, witnessing how weather patterns are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere – all of it was completely new to me. And now, since yesterday, I’ve been exploring the Southern Ocean: the cold, the wildlife, and the waves turning chaotic. It’s just amazing – I truly feel like I’m sailing around the world.”
Le Turquais, a competitive Mini and former Figaro sailor whose wife Clarisse Crémer (L’Occitane En Provence) is 900 miles ahead in 13th place, claims the race so far has been “quite exceptional.” “I believe it’s been the same for everyone at the beginning of this Vendée Globe,” he stated. “It’s been three weeks at sea, and I’ve only encountered one front. I’ve never unfurled a close-hauled sail, never sailed upwind, nor used the daggerboard. It has been downwind sailing since the start, which is quite extraordinary.”
At the helm of the former Groupe Apicil, Le Turquais is elated. “Well, yes… I’m enjoying every moment on the boat,” he remarked. “The boat’s speed is incredibly exhilarating – the lights, the colors, the wind – everything, absolutely everything. It’s pure joy from start to finish. Right now, I’m not suffering from anything, and I’m savoring every bit of it. It truly is bliss.”
If you’re looking for signs of stress, loneliness, or anxiety, you won’t find it with Dorange either. “Even after 24 days, I feel neither lonely nor bored,” she shared. “Every day is genuinely different. In recent days, I’ve had a lot of maneuvering to do. I stay busy analyzing weather, trimming sails, sleeping, and eating. I have plenty to keep me engaged – I read, listen to music and podcasts, and journal. I think I have a good routine, and I feel happy on my boat, which is the most vital thing. I’m thrilled to be here – it’s incredible.”
Le Turquais enjoys sailing with music filling his cockpit. He compares sailing without a soundtrack to watching a film without dialogue. This time, he has been revisiting a nostalgic playlist from his teenage years featuring the French hip-hop group Sniper. “I can’t stop listening to it right now,” he joked. Another onboard favorite is the French artist Renaud.
Ahead lies the significant challenge of the long passage through the Southern Ocean, but Dorange is optimistic about what’s to come. “Right now, I’m experiencing the first depression to hit us, and it’s a strong one. During the first squall of this system, I was taken by surprise by 42-43 knots of wind. Everything turned white with the waves, and it felt unusual. But this first depression is somewhat reassuring. It helps me prepare for the next, which may be even stronger. This initial experience is giving me insight into what to expect with the waves, how reliable the weather forecasts are, and how forceful the gusts might be,” she explained.
For this remarkable young sailor from La Rochelle, who crossed the English Channel in an Optimist dinghy at age 15, her ranking in the daggerboard fleet isn’t of primary importance, despite being well-placed in the top-four. “Right now, it’s mostly about survival – completing the race without damaging the boat or facing too many issues. My main goal is to get past the Cape of Good Hope, and I aim to focus on safely finishing the race and completing the circumnavigation,” she stated.
Le Turquais, however, shares an intriguing perspective on this topic. While he claims he simply wants to give his best and isn’t focused on the top-three, he adds: “I won’t be satisfied until I’ve passed Benji (Ferré) and Jean – that’s for sure. I’ll do everything possible to catch up to them. If I give my all and can’t reach them, it means they’ve performed well against me. That’s fine – I won’t have regrets. But for the moment, I’ll put in all my effort to close the gap.”
He appears unconcerned about tackling the Big South for the first time solo. “I’m genuinely looking forward to what’s ahead,” Le Turquais said. “I’m excited to reach the Indian Ocean and explore it, even knowing that it’s tough and demanding. But I’m eager to get there – and also to get through it.”
He provided a fascinating glimpse into a solo sailor’s mindset when discussing his mental preparedness for potential problems. “Several times a day,” he explained, “I run through mental checklists and ask myself: ‘If this breaks and I need to get into my liferaft, what should I take?’ I mentally list: ‘I’ll grab this, this, and that.’
“That’s something you don’t usually consider in other races,” he continued. “I think it’s particularly unique to the Vendée Globe to always prepare for the worst. Honestly, I feel as if I have the Sword of Damocles hanging overhead.”
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