A French yachtswoman and her husband were on Monday cleared of allegations they cheated in the last Vendee Globe sailing race, following an investigation by an international jury.
Two weeks after anonymous accusations were sent to certain media, Clarisse Cremer and Tanguy Le Turquais were cleared of "misconduct" during the 2020/2021 Vendee Globe.
"Tanguy sought to understand Clarisse's intentions, to reassure himself about her safety. The international jury is entirely convinced that there was no misconduct," the decision read.
"It's a great relief. With Tanguy, we didn't really doubt ourselves, but it was really a nightmare these last few weeks," Cremer told AFP.
"We feel that we can finally turn the page and start again devoting 100 percent to the preparation of our two projects," the 34-year-old, who skippered her yacht Banque Populaire into 12th, added.
The accusations were based on screenshots of WhatsApp conversations between Cremer and her husband, sent anonymously to several media outlets and the French sailing federation (FFVoile).
Cremer was accused of using information relayed to her by the land-based Le Turquais, including weather maps, to help plot her route during the 45,000-kilometre race.
Outside assistance of this nature is strictly forbidden in the rules of the solo non-stop round the world race that sets out and finishes at the French port of Les Sables-d'Olonne every four years.
In its decision, the jury considered that these screenshots "do not demonstrate that there was 'routing'" on the part of Le Turquais and "do not demonstrate that Clarisse received performance assistance" from her spouse.
"The international jury is entirely convinced that there was no misconduct on the part of Clarisse Cremer or Tanguy Le Turquais. I therefore take note of these conclusions rendered in complete independence," Alain Leboeuf, president of the Vendee Globe, said in a statement.
The couple questioned the motive and timing of their anonymous accuser with the pair among the competitors for the next Vendee Globe starting in November.