Yannick Bestaven: A love of the sea and a fine head on his shoulders
It is difficult not to get attached to Yannick Bestaven. His talent is only equalled by his simplicity and his warmth towards others. While he spent his youth on the banks of the Arcachon Basin, he always had his eyes set on sailing further out to sea. First of all in windsurfing, where he came across Yves Parlier in the Atlantic rollers, then in cruiser racing. However, because it was a family tradition, Yannick gave up the cockpit for a while to spend some time in the lecture theatre in order to study engineering. Once he had shown himself capable of entering the “real world”, he returned to his first love and entered the Mini-Transat in 1999. He finished honourably, but believed he could do much better. He returned in 2001 and was a clear winner. For four years, he was involved in the Figaro circuit, but in his heart of hearts, he knew he was more suited to ocean crossings than to close-contact sailing. This Vendée Globe will offer him the opportunity to prove just that.
