Initially, Pierre Daniellot, 22, was disqualified from stages 2 and 3: the Figaro Team Vendée Formation skipper had dropped from 9th to 28th place in the general classification. After its first hearing, the jury estimated that “given the limited number of downloaded files, one in England, the other in Vendée and without proven evidence that he had a phone on board, the sanction is less severe. »
New research, new elements
His training partner, Benoit Tuduri, 29, was immediately excluded from the race for having downloaded GRIB files: he had taken a SIM card, which is strictly prohibited by the regulations.
In the last 48 hours, things have evolved and the case of Pierre Daniellot, whose fingerprints seemed suspicious, has been studied for the second time, as confirmed by Georges Priol, president of the jury: “Investigations were being carried out and the process had been reopened” . the instruction following new elements that appeared after the work of Yann Chateau (career director). He looked at the footprints and, let’s say, the story was no longer the same…”
“He cheated too.”
Therefore, the jury questioned Pierre Daniellot for the second time. “I can only tell you that history has changed enough for us to change our minds too. He also cheated, so he is excluded”, adds the president of the jury, who is finalizing the reports for the FFVoile.
According to our information, Daniellot, unlike Tuduri, did not use a SIM card. In both cases, the skippers violated rule 69 (damage to the image of the sport) of World Sailing, the international federation.
disciplinary commission
The jury president’s reports will be deposited on the desk of the FFVoile president, Jean-Luc Denéchau, who will refer the matter to an independent disciplinary commission. It takes ten weeks for the case to be tried and sanctions imposed. The two sailors, registered in class 40 of the upcoming Transat Jacques Vabre, run a great risk: from license suspension for a certain period to lifelong suspension.
