[Source: Vendée Globe] At 20:01, François Gabart announced that his team that he crossed the longitude of the first ice gate. He has the privilege of now leading the way into the formidable Indian Ocean. Snapping at his heels are Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3) and Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) who have no intention of letting this young man getting comfortable with his newly acquired position
François Gabart is a boy wonder. He courageously led the Vendée Globe from the start line and now, subsequently leads the fleet into the Indian Ocean. Pragmatic, and maybe naive, he cosniders Indian Ocean and North Atlantic, as just another a wave. Yet, let us not forget that he was forced stop, patenred with Michel Desjoyeaux in the last Barcelona World Race, when the duo was dismasted off South Africa. He has put the past behind him and is forging ahead wanting to write a fresh new chapter is his memoirs.
However, entry into the Indian Ocean is never neutral. From now on, the lonely advance into solitary confinement each day. They will inevitably find themselves, having emotional moments that they will want to share only with members of their team. On land, the support team know they will sometimes play nannies with priveliged access into the soul of their skipper. Armel Le Cléac’h used few words to explain to the Race HQ his for first foray into the Indian Ocean, he felt compelled to tread lightly but now it is different. His ambition is to finish better than second.
It was Jean Le Cam (SynerCiel) who said that entering the harshest oceans for the first time was like opening Pandora’s box. Once you are in anxiety disappears and survival becomes the order of the day. Soon, the front runners will be thrown into the deep end and it will be a matter of sink or swim.