Vendée Globe

Cali “disappearing off the map”

As they line up for the start, this former geography student may get teased by the fishermen of La Chaume, the famous inventors of the World Liar Championships. They like nothing other than to invent sentences such as the following that fits like a glove the sailor that everyone calls Cali in the world of ocean racing: «Those, who do the Vendée Globe, go so far out to sea that they disappear off the map!»

It is time for Arnaud Boissières from Arcachon to “disappear off the map”. This former transatlantic Mini racer, who worked professionally as a skipper in the West Indies and worked on delivering boats and preparing them for Catherine Chabaud and Yves Parlier is finally seeing his dream of circumnavigating the world come true, after going through the Figaro circuit. Skipper of the magnificent 60-foot Solune, among other experiences, Arnaud will this time be at the helm of a very powerful boat, particularly downwind, in spite of her age.

Press Contact : Matthieu HONORE
+33 (0)6 30 54 42 90 / agence@effetsmer.com

• Winner of the Equator Route aboard a 50-foot Open in 2005
• Round Ireland record
• Figaro seasons in 2002, 2003 and 2004
• Crewman on Olivier de Kersauson’s Geronimo (Oryx Quest attempt)
• Mini-transats in 1999, 2000 and 2001(3rd place)

On the 60’ « Akena Vérandas »
• 10th in the 2007 Calais Round Britain Race
• 9th in the 2007 Transat Ecover B to B
12th in the 2007 Transat • Jacques Vabre (with JP Chomette)
• 4th in the 2007 SNSM Record

Akena Verandas is in fact Raphaël Dinelli’s former Sodebo that was sailed by Thomas Coville, before becoming Sébastien Josse’s VMI reaching fourth place in the last Vendée Globe and aboard which Armel Le Cléac’h finished fourth in the last Route du Rhum sailing her under the name of Brit’Air.

Boat - Designer: Finot-Cong - Boatyard: Kirié - Launch date: 1998 - Previous names for the boat and previous skippers : Raphaël Dinelli - Armel Le Cléac’h - Sébastien Josse (VMI) – Thomas Coville (Sodebo) - Length : 18.28 m (60’) - Beam : 5.80 m (19’) - Draught: 4.50 m (14’9’’) - Displacement (weight): 8070 kg - Number of daggerboards: 1 - Mast height: 27m (88’6’’) - Keel blade : carbon - Upwind sail surface: 271m2 - Downwind sail surface : 617m2

© François Chevalier

• 22/02/09 : Pictures of Cali finishing
• 22/02/09 : Reaction from the President of Akéna Vérandas
• 22/02/09 : Arnaud Boissières finishes seventh
• 22/02/09 : Arnaud at the line
• 22/02/09 : Final minutes...