Armel Le Cléac'h winner of The Transat Barkerly aboard the Mono Banque Populaire VIII!
The Banque Populaire skipper crossed the finishing line of the transatlantic race on May 14, signing his first victory in the IMOCA class.
Armel Le Cléac'h, aboard the Banque Populaire VIII Monohull, won the 14th edition of “The Transat Barkerly,” the legendary solo transatlantic race between Plymouth (UK) and New York.
The Banque Populaire skipper crossed the finishing line off Manhattan on May 14 at 11:27 am (5:27 pm French time). In the lead since the second day of the race, Armel has won his first IMOCA race, less than a year after the monohull was first launched.
Right up to the very last tack, this transatlantic race will have called on all the different facets of Armel Le Cléac'h's talent as a sailor. The very special conditions of this 2016 edition, marked by the sudden onset of strong winds, required the competitors to have a particularly keen sense of anticipation and analysis. Each time, the Banque Populaire skipper rose successfully to the challenge, tackling each difficulty from the right angle to make the very most of the prevailing conditions.
Add to that the constant threat of the formidable Vincent Riou (PRB), constantly seeking out every opportunity to catch up and challenge the primacy of Banque Populaire VIII, and you can appreciate the full extent of the emotional intensity of this event, and the singular flavor of this victory.
Armel Le Cléac'h triumphed on all fronts: in terms of technology, with the brilliant demonstration of the qualities of his monohull, but also in terms of tactics, with the skipper’s formidable sense of placement, and as a sportsman after a sprint lasting more than 12 days without respite.
A superb victory for Armel and the Banque Populaire Team
“Arriving in New York is something magical. This is my first big victory in the IMOCA class, sailing single-handedly on a major transatlantic race! It's a very fine achievement! I really wanted to win it, after coming in 2nd place in the Vendée Globe and Transat Jacques Vabre... I’m happy to have achieved this objective, both for myself and for the Banque Populaire Team,” said Armel.
Just a few months before the Vendée Globe, the skipper confirms his status as favorite for the next round-the-world race. It also offers a resounding justification of the Team's innovative technological choices for the Banque Populaire VIII monohull.
Find full details about Armel's victory