Benjamin Ferre (Monnoyeur - Duo for a Job) crossed the finish line of the twelfth edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe at 04:54:30 UTC on Wednesday 23rd November. He finished fifteenth in the IMOCA class with a race time of 13 days, 15 hours, 39 minutes and 30 seconds. The sailor sailed the 3542 theoretical miles of the race course between Saint-Malo and Pointe-à-Pitre at the speed of 10.81 knots on the Great Circle route. Out on the water, the skipper of Monnoyeur - Duo for a Job actually sailed 4044.88 miles averaging 12.34 knots. He finished in Pointe-à-Pitre 1 day 22 hours 3 minutes and 5 seconds after the class winner, Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut).
Ferre said. "This was a baptism of fire. I think I’m exhausted as it was non-stop. This is excellent training for the Vendée Globe because I went through everything. After 24 hours of racing, I had to climb the mast to repair the hook. Two hours into the race I didn’t have any internet, no aerial… So no contact with the outside world and no weather. I was in Mini Transat mode, but on an Imoca, the stress is there all the time. Everyday, there was something to sort out. The day before yesterday, my spinnaker exploded, so I used my old code 0, but I could see it ripping. I furled it up five miles from Guadeloupe before a huge squall. I enjoyed the race and think I did a good job. James Harayda really sailed well. I did my best to catch him, but just couldn’t. Sailing is like riding a bike – you have to pedal all the time. You go from laughter to tears. Surfing along at nineteen knots under spinnaker, you’re alone in the world.”