Denis Van Weynbergh sets sail on his first Vendée Globe
Denis Van Weynbergh crossed the Vendée Globe starting line this Sunday 10 November at 12:02 UTC alongside thirty-nine other skippers in in very calm conditions. The skipper of the IMOCA D’Ieteren Group is making his grand debut in this legendary event and is aiming to be the first Belgian to complete the single-handed, non-stop, unassisted round-the-world race.
The three weeks in the Vendée Globe village had a festival feel for Denis, who enjoyed a packed programme that included meeting the public, responding to requests from the media and the organisation, as well as welcoming the associates of D’Ieteren Group... The team of volunteers was also aboard the IMOCA tweaking the final technical details. During this time, Denis treated himself to a short break in Belgium to recharge his batteries with family and continue with his fitness training.
Everything was shipshape and ready to go for both him and the boat before they set sail: “I feel like it’s my first tryst: I’m keen to get going with it but I’m also a bit stressed at the same time. It’s the realisation of a dream; it’s a big day!”
Taking part in the Vendée Globe is a victory in itself for Denis, who has been dreaming about and preparing for this challenge for the past 6 years. After a failed attempt to make the starting line in 2020, Denis intends to set the record straight this year and is relishing the opportunity to do so!
“I was right to keep trying and just run with it. I’d like to thank all the people who have helped me put this project together. Beyond the destination, there is the journey and only now do I see that there has been a common theme linking the different elements of my life,” he admitted.
The course setting out from and returning to Les Sables d’Olonne promises to be intense: 24,300 miles where each new day will be another opportunity to push the envelope since Denis is yet to spend more than a fortnight at sea. His goal: to sail a sub-93-day time, which is the boat’s current record and was set in 2016 by her then skipper, Nandor Fa.
Following some emotional farewells dockside in Port Olona and the frenzy of thousands of spectators thronging along the channel and flocking to the Bay of Les Sables in their boats, Denis is suddenly all alone on his IMOCA, face to face with the challenges presented by this race.
From the get-go, vigilance will be key out on the water! As such, even though the weather conditions are forecast to be mild, the exit from the Bay of Biscay and its shipping remains a particularly sensitive area.
The race start is just the beginning of a long and demanding voyage, where the skipper will have to demonstrate stamina, adaptability and a cool head to deal with the changeable conditions in the Atlantic.
“An IMOCA project comprises a boat, a team, a skipper and some partners. It’s a real challenge for D’Ieteren Group to commit to such an extraordinary project that really stands out from rest. They have been won over by it, they’ve taken a risk and that is very much part of their corporate culture. It’s a fine example to set and it conveys some powerful values that include boldness, risk-taking and a whole set of new targets. “Walking off the pontoon is a fantastic moment. Being at the start of the Vendée Globe is already a victory.”
