Practising sport to keep in shape and clear one’s mind

At no point in his preparation has Giancarlo Pedote neglected his physical fitness training, especially since he started out in Class IMOCA some three years ago. The reason for this is that 60-foot boats, particularly those with foils like Prysmian Group, have become very fast, very powerful, but also very uncomfortable and hence very hard work. As such, over recent months the Italian sailor has been working on his  basic stamina, as well as core-strengthening exercises and proprioception, with a view to guarding the body against the risk of injury at sea. “On our machines, it is essential to be physically fit and not to play down the importance of this aspect of our preparation. Core-strengthening exercises make the deep muscles stronger so as to keep pace with the heavy impact placed on the body by the boat, whilst the cardio element and the gain in muscle mass make it possible to keep on top of the manoeuvres, explains Giancarlo who, even two weeks away from the start of the Vendée Globe, is continuing to work on his physical fitness, which has the added bonus of clearing his mind and stretching his legs. “It does me good. It enables me to offload the pressure and my emotions. Clearly at this stage I’m no longer gunning for performance. As such, I’m doing muscle strengthening exercises and stretches, then from time to time I go running. Equally, it’s not out of the question for me to do a bit of swimming in the sea, in the bay of Les Sables d’Olonne, between now and the start”, concludes Giancarlo Pedote.