The first two-time winner of the Vendee Globe race, Michel Desjoyeaux, is visiting Seychelles on holiday after his solo nonstop yacht race around the world on February 1. Mr. Desjoyeaux will return to our islands to sail our seas as well as participate in the premier event of the Seychelles Regatta in May.
The skipper was welcomed at the Seychelles International Airport, February 13, by a delegation from the Seychelles Tourism Board along with the French Ambassador to the Seychelles, Mr. Michel Tretout.
In the Vendee Globe race Mr. Desjoyeaux took 84 days and 3 hours to complete the course beating British opponent, Ellen McArthur by 1 day and 28 minutes. The race ended at its starting point in France at Les Sables d’ Olonne. Whist sailing across the Indian Ocean the sailors met violent seas leading to a series of accidents yet Desjoyeaux stayed in the lead.
„I never really worried about being behind“ he says, according to a source, „I won this Vendee Globe before the start with the choices I made, with the team and the experience I have built up.“
He stated that he would not miss the first Seychelles Regatta for the world, hence he will once more sail the Indian Ocean in the race organised by Blue Ocean Events set to take place from May 15 to 24, 2009. Blue Oceans Events is based in Brussels, Belgium and created by three partners: Benoît le Grelle, Olivier le Grelle and Régis Elhaouel.
The two-time champion will be participating alongside other top sailors from around the world. The Seychelles Regatta will not only be for professionals but other enthusiasts being dubbed ‘an exclusive, semi-professional competition’ having a fleet which will consist of 36’ to 57’ catamarans and crews of 6 to 8 people embarking on a spirited journey across the Seychelles Islands’ waters.
Equally important, the Seychelles Regatta will also be a unique opportunity for teambuilding and incentive amongst employees. Set in a fantastic environment, this premier event will bring together twenty companies and will incorporate a deep-sea fishing competition in some of the best fishing spots in the world.
Seychelles offers a unique course amongst 115 granite and coral islands and each company with its managers, clients, executives, associates and employees can enjoy a week of friendly interaction that could lead to future collaborations between the participating companies.
The month of May is an appropriate month for this one-week sailing event when the weather is every sailor’s friend providing wind and sunshine without mentioning the typical warm welcome from the Seychellois people. The available catamarans will be Lagoon 38, Nautitech 40, Leopard 40, Leopard 43, Lagoon 440, Nautitech 44, Leopard 46, Bahia 46 and Catana 47.
Find below more information about the Seychelles Regatta: seychellesregatta.com
Photo: Champion skipper Michel Desjoyeaux will return to Seychelles in May to race in the Seychelles Regatta / Seychelles Tourism Board
