Vendée Globe

The Defender

Discreet, genuine, bordering on taciturn, and… frighteningly efficient. The title holder and race record holder (87 days) has up until now had a perfect score in the Vendée Globe: technical coordinator for Michel Desjoyeaux’s PRB, the 2000 winner and above all skipper of PRB in 2004 that as everyone remembers he sailed to victory. That was all it took for Jean Le Cam to label him « Vincent The Terrible.»

Can the lifeboatman from Lesconil repeat the feat and take PRB to a third victory in a row in the Sailing Everest? If this was to be the case, if Vincent Riou led PRB to a new triumph, we would be talking all over again about his titles as French Match Racing champion and aboard a First Class 8, ten years or so ago, and about his campaigns in the Figaro or that famous 1993 Coffee Route, which saw him bring his boat safely home with no help at the age of 21, in spite of an ingress of water.

This formidable sailor and weather expert does not hesitate for a second before becoming a router for the top names. To cut a long story short, Vincent has dealt himself a winning hand, which could allow him to repeat the success he had four years ago. He will be the defender… and therefore the man to beat.

Press Contact : Fabienne MORIN
+33 (0)6 87 25 83 15 / agence@effetsmer.com

• Winner of the 2004-2005 Vendée Globe
• Winner of the 2007 Rolex Fastnet Race
• Winner of the Calais Round Britain Race with a crew in 2003
• 3 Transat Jacques Vabre races, one Atlantic Challenge (2nd in 2003)
• 3 Figaro single-handed events (4th in 2002)
• 4th in the Transat AG2R in 2002

On the 60’ « PRB »
• Winner of the 2007 Rolex Fastnet Race
• Winner of the 2007 Calais Round Britain Race
• Retired from the 2007 Barcelona World Race
• Retired from the 2008 Artemis Transat

Like a lot of competitors in this 2008 race, Vincent turned to Farr Yacht Design, LTD for the design of his new PRB. While his preparation was upset by a number of incidents, Vincent will in the end be one of the entrants, who has had the most time to prepare his boat, which was launched in early 2007. We can be sure he will be able to get the most out of her.

Boat - Designer: Bruce Farr Yacht Design - Boatyard: CDK Technologies - Launch date: September 2006 - Length: 18.28 m (60’) - Beam: 5.85 m (19’2’’) - Draught : 4.50 m (14’9’’) - Displacement (weight): 8500 kg - Number of daggerboards : 2 - Mast height : 27 m (88’6’’) - Keel blade : steel - Upwind sail surface: 300m2 - Downwind sail surface: 500m2

© François Chevalier

• 27/02/09 : PRB back in Brittany tomorrow
• 11/01/09 : PRB moored in Ushuaia
• 06/01/09 : Fourth time lucky, Riou describes Le Cam’s rescue
• 06/01/09 : Special radio session with Vincent and Armel
• 03/01/09 : Glad to be leaving? French skippers update...