Barcelona World Race, the winning humility of Stamm and Le Cam

They are the undisputed rulers of the Barcelona World Race, the round-the-world round-the-world race in pairs aboard Imoca 60. Bernard Stamm and Jean Le Cam, aboard Cheminées Poujoulat, overcame a 1,000-mile lead over their direct pursuers, Neutrogena’s Spaniards Guillermo Altadill and José Munoz, taking 84 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes and 25 seconds. Miles traveled by the duo were 27950, at an average speed of 13.82 knots. The two set the time reference for the race, which was based on a different route this year (the fleet went directly under New Zealand instead of heading north to pass Cook Strait, saving 1280 miles).

THE HUMILITY OF CHAMPIONS
They maintained a communicative and sincere profile throughout the regatta, which started last Dec. 31 from the Catalan city (about 23,000 theoretical miles passing through, in order, the Cape of Good Hope, Leeuwin, Horn and Antarctica), remaining focused and never allowing themselves to be overdramatized, just as one would expect from a duo with extensive ocean experience. Here is the “best of” sentences said by the two during the regatta.

“If neither of us develops an outsized ego, there will be no reason for the regatta to end badly. We always learn from others. With Bernard we talk, we compare. We improve together.”
Jean le Cam – December 5, 2014 – Paris Boat Show

“We have to remember that this is a race around the world, that we have a good boat and that we will be able to handle the race normally. The big difficulty of the regatta is to go outside the Mediterranean.”
Bernard Stamm – December 29, 2014 – Presentation press conference

“Ça va”
Jean Le Cam – December 29, 2014 – Presentation press conference

“A lot has happened. But all in all, the boat is performing well. We have some small technical problems that make life not exactly easy for us, but nothing is insurmountable.”
Bernard Stamm – January 30, 2015 – After a month of sailing.

“It was the first time I had to stop in a race, but it was the only solution to avoid getting into a survival situation.”
Bernard Stamm – February 3, 2015 – Tropical cyclones.

“We have been sailing for a month, more than a month, five weeks, with harsh sea and wind conditions, and cold. Now we will turn left, then north and into milder temperatures. So, in general, we can say it’s not bad when you double it.”
Jean Le Cam – February 25, 2015 – Cape Horn

“It is clear that we are tired. We’ve had some minor injuries. Jean has a sore rib and feels pain with every movement. When you have to climb the tree, you feel pain all over. The pain builds up over time and accompanies you to the finish line. We may have lost some weight, but it is hard to judge. We think more about the health of the boat than about ourselves.”
Bernard Stamm – March 3, 2015 – 5,000 miles to go

“I have never completed a round-the-world voyage so fast. When you sail from South Africa to Australia, New Zealand, Argentina it feels like you’re going on an endless journey. Then when you’re at the Equator and you see Europe just up there, you suddenly realize you’re there.”
Jean Le Cam – March 10, 2015 – Equator

“I think the hardest thing is being able to go on a round-the-world race: getting a boat, a team, sponsors, those things there, that you need to do a good race. That’s why there aren’t a lot of people going out on round-the-world regattas. But maybe it’s also because there aren’t many people who want to go around the world.”
Bernard Stamm – March 19, 20125 – Answer to a child’s question, “Why aren’t there more boats at around-the-world regattas?”

“I don’t think there has been a day without at least one problem.”
“There are so many things we don’t have on board, so I’m looking forward to reacquainting myself with it. A glass of red wine, an orange, an apple, seeing people, one’s family. Everything that you have and we don’t have.”
Bernard Stamm – March 24, 2015 – Last day of racing