Q & A with Charles Devanneaux – owner of US entry Lenny

• NEWS
• 01 Jan, 2024 08:59:00 AM

Q & A with Charles Devanneaux – owner of US entry Lenny

**Charles Devanneaux (second from right) with crew of LENNY** Although French, with a full French crew, Charles Devanneaux represented the USA where he lives.

Q: How was that last night for you?

CD: We had no electronics, no engine, no batteries. When we passed Tasman island, we had rough, rough seas. We had three reefs in the main and a small jib. It was very tough. It was pitch black with squalls and big waves.

How did you navigate without electronics?

Traditional way? iPad (laughing). Looking at the charts, looking at the lights, look at where you're going. And on top of that, because you have no electrics, no light on the compass … lamp on the compass always.

Q: Was it very cold?

CD: It was really, really cold. I have never been so cold for a long time. Hawaii is better!

Q: The whole experience, was it everything you hoped for or expected?

CD: It was expected to be very, very hard. It was harder than I thought because someone told me about the last races been downwind everything. I think we only had two hours of spinnakers and nearly two nights with the anchor, drifting, then days upwind in more than 20 knots.

That is not what I was sold (laughing). It is good to be back in the marina (Hobart), will start to fix the boat, charge the batteries.

Lenny is headed to Brisbane and then on a cargo ship headed home to California.

Q: Will you be back for the Rolex Sydney Hobart?

CD: I am unsure about returning.

It was a tough one, really tough. Last night when you are responsible for eight lives on board you are in pitch black, in squalls … We were three on deck, five inside. There was no danger really and everyone on the boat knew what to do.

I don’t have a lot of racers on board but they are very experienced sailors.

Rupert Guinness/RSHYR media