Jean-Pierre Dick completed his solo round-the-world voyage by crossing the finish line at Les Sables d’Olonne on Monday at 16:05. It was a challenging ascent of the Atlantic, but the Nice native persevered after his keel damage. Here’s a look back at the skipper of Virbac-Paprec 3’s journey in the Vendée Globe.
Even though Jean-Pierre Dick finished just outside the podium when third place was expected, he left a remarkable impression on his competitors and the entire sailing community. Everyone acknowledges that the skipper of Virbac-Paprec 3 achieved a feat by reaching Les Sables d’Olonne in 86 days, 3 hours, 3 minutes, and 40 seconds, despite all his setbacks.
On November 10th, at 13:02, the adventure began for the Nice skipper and the 19 other competitors in this new edition of the Vendée Globe. The descent towards Portugal and the Canary Islands posed no significant problems for Virbac-Paprec 3. After a few days in the Doldrums, a zone known among sailors for its changeable winds, the skipper chose an eastern route in his descent of the South Atlantic off the Brazilian coast. It was a rewarding tactic, while his competitors took a more direct route, which turned out to be less fruitful, towards the Cape of Good Hope. He maintained his cruising speed in the Indian Ocean.
It was after passing Cape Horn that things deteriorated. The sailor lost precious nautical miles to Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) and François Gabart (Macif), the constant leader. The beginning of 2013 did not start on the right foot. The skipper of Virbac-Paprec, a company founded by his late father, had to swap his oilskins for the handyman’s apron. He struggled to repair his loop and the damaged hook that prevented him from lowering his gennaker (a fore sail intermediate between a genoa and an asymmetrical spinnaker). To make these repairs, Jean-Pierre Dick had to climb his mast over 27 meters high amidst heavy swell. After a few hours, he could resume his course towards Vendée.
He managed to claw back some of his delay and was now 330 nautical miles from the leader but remained under the threat of Briton Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss). It was a hopeful sign considering the winds the sailor had experienced in recent days. The Atlantic ascent went well, without any setbacks, until Monday, January 21st. The sailor simply lost the keel of his boat 1,700 miles from Les Sables. It was a significant blow. This essential tool for the boat’s drift and buoyancy put the skipper in a delicate situation. What to do in such a situation? The thought of abandoning surely crossed his mind, but the Nice native would not admit defeat. By anchoring at San Ciprian, the sailor could take some time to contemplate his decision. He admitted it was tough and that vigilance was needed to avoid endangering the boat. He also took the opportunity to rest and recharge.
The last days at sea were exhausting. The skipper decided, quite logically, to seek shelter but without considering abandonment, especially being just a few nautical miles from the finish. The Vendée Globe regulations are clear; a competitor can anchor and thus not be excluded as long as no external help is used. According to the race commissioners, “by using his engine solely for securing the mooring maneuver and for a very short time (3 to 4 minutes), the skipper acted as a prudent sailor and gained no advantage from his infraction of articles 13.2 and 13.3 of the Notice of Race by demasting and then using his engine during mooring to a buoy.” The jury concluded that the VP3 infraction was minor.
By hugging the Spanish and French coasts, the Nice sailor managed to reach Vendée after two weeks of efforts and uncertainties, resuming his journey on Sunday at 8:21. Many were there to welcome him at the Sands of Olonne channel at 16:05, the time he crossed the finish line. Just like Yves Parlier in the Vendée Globe 2000, who demasted and finished the race with jury-rigging, Jean-Pierre Dick joins the ranks of these courageous, daring sailors. The Nautical Center of Nice can be proud of its protégé. Loïck Peyron dubbed him the “Gentleman Skipper.”
Definitely, hats off, Sir!
