| Along with Vincent Riou, Michel Desjoyeaux is the only competitor in this year’s Vendee Globe to have won the race previously. Although it may generally be believed that Ellen MacArthur came first in the 2000-1 race so intense was the media deluge that greeted her on her arrival, in fact MichDes/Le Professeur arrived more than a day ahead of the Derbyshire dragstress, who took second.
After several years campaigning the ORMA 60 Geant, with the sad demise of that circuit Desjoyeaux announced his return to the IMOCA Open 60 class taking over the Foncia sponsorship from 1992 Vendee Globe winner, Alain Gautier. On this occasion Desjoyeaux went to the Farr office for his latest steed, part of a two boat arrangement with Riou, who was shore manager of his campaign in 2000-1 and who later took over the reigns of his boat, PRB and successfully defended Desjoyeaux’s title in 2004-5 (that boat is now Sam Davies’ Roxy). While the new PRB and Foncia campaigns were being run through Desjoyeaux’s company Mer Agitee, Riou’s campaign broke away last year. ...more |
