Friendship as a performance factor

Currently lying second in the Transat Jacques Vabre, some fifty miles or so astray of leaders François Gabart and Michel Desjoyeaux aboard MACIF, Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam (PRB) are sure to put up fierce resistance to the race favourites. Indeed the duo’s paths have been closely linked since the Vendée Globe 2004-2005, where their duel at the front of the pack made for a thrilling race. This concluded with the advantage just going to Vincent thanks to a lead of less than 7 hours, earning him the title of “le terrible” from his pursuer. Following that came the rescue of Jean Le Cam during the next edition by Vincent himself in what proved to be very perilous conditions, which later cause PRB to dismast just after rounding Cape Horn. After all that the two men have naturally developed a deep friendship, heightened by an intense enjoyment from sailing together. This stock of shared adventures and intense moments is a major asset for these two determined competitors who are currently competing in the longest Transat Jacques Vabre ever organised (5,400 miles or 10,000km).