Solo yachtswoman Clarisse Crémer has denied accusations of cheating in the 2020-21 Vendée Globe.
According to France 24, it comes on the foot of claims in an anonymous email sent earlier this month to the French Sailing Federation (FFVoile) that Crémer’s husband Tanguy Le Turquais communicated information from which she plotted her route for the 45,000-race.
The Vendée Globe strictly forbids any such outside assistance — but Crémer, who finished 12th in the race, and Le Turquais insist that their long-distance WhatsApp conversations did no such thing.
“During our chats which essentially concerned the intimacy between a couple, Tanguy never gave me the slightest bit of information that I didn’t have already,” Crémer said in a statement released by the couple.
Crémer has questioned the timing behind the anonymous email, with both her and Le Turquais among the 44 sailors vying for 40 spots in the 2024-25 edition of the race which starts in a little over three months’ time.
It’s not the first issue to beset Crémer’s Vendée Globe campaign, as this time last year she was reeling after being dropped by her former main sponsor just weeks after having a baby, though she has since secured the support of another team.
France 24 has more on the story HERE and Tip and Shaft has an editorial here