American solo skipper Alex Mehran on Polka Dot crossed the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre in 14th position in Class40 on the 12thRoute du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe. He stopped the clock on Saturday morning at 00h11mn15sec local time (04h11mn15sec, Paris time), the His race time is 16 days 14 hours 56 minutes 15 seconds. Racing the Lombard Lift40 on which Yoann Richomme won the Class40 title in 2018 in 16d 3h 22m 44s the Californian real estate and property developer completed the 3,542 mile course between Saint-Malo and Pointe-à-Pitre at a speed of 8.88 knots on the great circle (direct route). He actually covered 4,124.63 miles at an average speed of 10.34 knots. He arrived in Pointe-à-Pitre 2 days 11 hours 47 minutes 35 seconds after the Class40 winner, Yoann Richomme.
Mehran said,
“It feels fantastic to be in. Every single part of the race had its own unique difficulty which I did not expect. This has been a long day but I can’t believe
I am here. I would say the storms were hard, but honestly the sea state when
I was running were difficult. It is hard to complain about it because you are running, you have such beautiful sunny skies, it is hard to complain. Crossing through the Azores, getting to the other side here is really special. But the race village in Saint Malo, the people, being with my team and my family, the rivalries, it has been unique.
I just wanted to finish but 14th is good. I am a naturally competitive person, so am here for the adventure of course but being a competitor out there is good. This boat is amazing, she held up really well. When you see how much other carnage there was with other 40s. A guy breaks his mast or has structural failures and you reach for the flashlight and think, ‘right. how is mine going?’
I am doing well. My last ocean race like this was ten years ago, single handed. I think I have gotten older and more cautious. I make slower, more deliberate decisions. I have taken care of myself I feel good.”