Vendée Globe: Frenchwoman with oldest boat at the finish: "Nothing is impossible!"
Happy ending for Alexia Barrier: the 41-year-old Frenchwoman has made her Vendée Globe debut on the oldest boat in the fleet. Her yacht, once designed by Marc Lombard for Catherine Chabaud and now sailing under the name "TSE - 4MyPlanet", was christened on 1 March 1998 and was almost 23 years old to the day when Alexia Barrier arrived. Nevertheless, the boat has carried her once non-stop around the world. The likeable soloist reached the finish line on 28 February at 7.23 a.m. German time after 111 days, 17 hours, 3 minutes and 44 seconds in 24th place in the fleet and as the fourth female sailor after her compatriot Clarisse Crémer (12th) and the British women Pip Hare (19th) and Miranda Merron (22nd). The two highest-ranked skippers, Sam Davies (Great Britain) and the German-French Isabelle Joschke, had retired early, but had completed their round-the-world races outside the classification after repair stops in the previous days with flying colours and were celebrated enthusiastically by a large audience at the finish.
In the replay: The live broadcast of the reception for Alexia Barrier at the end of her completed Vendée Globe premiere
Alexia Barrier also received a very warm welcome when she arrived at the start and finish harbour of Les Sables-d'Olonne at sunrise on Sunday. Family, friends, project partners and her black Labrador Nikka were waiting for her at the pontoon in the famous Port Olona after a triumphant passage through the canal. Shortly after mooring, Barrier said: "I've sailed the oldest boat in the fleet and I'm at the finish line! A lot has happened. I had strong moments of fear and happy times of joy. It was a fantastic adventure that will stay engraved in my memory forever. At this moment, it all gives me hope for a comeback in four years' time with a faster boat. Even though my boat is incredible, a legend!" Barrier's boat has circumnavigated the world seven times.
Asked about unforgettable moments of the race, Alexia Barrier said: "I was very scared in the Indian Ocean. Or was it the Pacific? I don't remember which one my mast was threatened in. I was very scared. Not afraid of dying, but afraid of not reaching my destination. And then ten days ago I hurt my back really badly and had to crawl in the boat. It's got a bit better in the last two days. But none of this could take anything away from this pure adventure and the happiness of experiencing this extraordinary welcome here in Les Sables-d'Olonne! What I will remember most about this Vendée Globe, my first lap around the world, is that nothing is impossible. With the power of mental strength, hard work and optimism, we can face any challenge." Barrier also brought on board the enormous fitness of a triathlete and the enduring commitment of a campaigner for the health of the world's oceans. Like Boris Herrmann, who arrived at his Vendée Globe premiere in Les Sables on 28 January, Alexia Barrier uses the foundation she set up back in 2009 to make young people in particular aware of the need and individual opportunities to protect the oceans.
Alexia Barrier crossed the finish line almost a month to the day after the front runners as the penultimate of the 33 Vendée Globe starters, 25 of whom are expected to cross the finish line with a categorised result. After her, the likeable Finnish pilot Ari Huusela is expected in Les Sables-d'Olonne. The "Stark" skipper still had 920 nautical miles to sail to the finish on Sunday morning and had already passed the Azores. He himself believes that he will not reach Les Sables until the coming weekend on 6 or 7 March because he is expecting flat winds in the Bay of Biscay for the finale.
