SALVADOR DE BAHIA, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 13: Campagne de France skippers Miranda Merron and Halvard Mabire talk to media at pontoon after taking 23rd place of the Imoca category of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 on November 13, 2019 in Bahia, Brazil. Transat Jacques Vabre is a duo sailing race from Le Havre, France, to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil. (Photo by Jean-Marie Liot/Alea)
Miranda Merron, Halvard Mabire and Campagne de France finished the 2019 edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie le Havre last night at 00h06m03s French time. The duo finished in 23rd place!
They completed the course in 17 days, 10 hours, 51 minutes and 3 seconds at an average pace of 10.39 knots over the 4350 mile course. In reality Campagne de France covered 4,612 miles at an average speed of 11.01 knots. The objective to finish and gain miles for Vendée Globe qualification has been achieved!
Halvard:
« It was really good! Very very good, it’s one of my most enjoyable transatlantic races. »
Miranda:
« It’s true, we had no pressure at the start so we had a lot of fun. I learned a lot! There’s still the return journey to do and after I will be on my own. Halvard will miss me! »
Halvard:
« I trained her, I did nothing, I was aft, just saying a little further to the left or right, and from time to time I turned winches. I took the opportunity to write a little. We’re happy. This is one of the most beautiful transats I’ve done. The conditions were nice. Leaving without pressure, I saw another side of offshore racing. It took me more than 40 years, and finally, it’s not that bad! I used to ask myself the question: “why do some people leave without any ambition of a top result?” I have the answer now: it’s a huge pleasure. I have to check with René [Boulaire, in charge of the rankings and time of arrival, ed], because we tried to cover as few miles as possible. »
Miranda:
« Campagne de France, is a good solid boat, there are some improvements to be made, downwind sails, some rigging. Everything is much heavier on an IMOCA and you really have to think and plan ahead because you pay for mistakes. In a Class40 if you make a mistake you can usually make up for it.
I feel that I have learned a lot and will learn more about the boat before going around the world; it’s a well-built boat, I had fun, even though I like to have some more boats behind me. I’ve never had so much fun on a transat. »
More information to come…
