Vendée Globe

The mathematician

This highly qualified Harvard graduate will be the elder statesman in this Vendée Globe. However, do not think that he will make any mistakes in calculating his route: this gifted maths prof from Boston is a high flier, as his incredible list of achievements shows; defence analyst in Washington to business angel in Massachusetts, not forgetting construction work in Saudi Arabia.

As for his nautical career, it was in 1980 that Rich Wilson got people talking by becoming the youngest winner of the Newport-Bermuda Race. After that, he sailed aboard Great American II, a 50-foot trimaran that was the sistership of the Irens designs Nootka and CLM. With this multihull, the American yachtsman set records such as the Hong Kong-New York, New York-Melbourne and San Francisco-Boston, the town where he grew up. In 2004, he finished second in his class in The Transat.
Mathematically, he is not up there amongst the favourites, but wants to enjoy the great adventure that is the Vendée Globe. And you always have to keep an eye on the resources of the maths prof...

Press Contact : Dianna FLETCHER
1.207.831.8148 / dianna@fletcher-media.com

• 2004 2nd in the Transat, class II multihulls
• 2003 Hong Kong – New-York record on Great American II
• 2001 New York – Melbourne record on Great American II

On the 60’ « Great American III »
• 16th in the 2007 Transat Jacques Vabre (with Mike Birch)
• 11th in the 2007 Transat B to B

For the great adventure of the Vendée Globe, Rich Wilson will be sailing aboard Thierry Dubois’ Nivelt-designed boat, aboard which he did his qualifying run in 2006 between La Trinité-sur-Mer and Portland. A boat aboard which he has already sailed in two transatlantic races.

Boat - Designer: Nivelt - Boatyard: Thierry Dubois and his team - Launch date: 1999 - Previous name of the boat and previous skippers: Solidaires, VM Matériaux - Length: 18.28 m (60’) - Beam: 5.20 m (17’) - Draught : 4.50 m (14’9’’) - Displacement(weight) : 8500 Kg - Number of daggerboards : 1 - Mast height: 26 m (85’3’’) - Keel blade : steel - Upwind sail surface : 232m2 - Downwind sail surface : 418m2

© François Chevalier

• 10/03/09 : Rich on the podium
• 10/03/09 : Rich Wilson finishes 9th in Vendee Globe
• 10/03/09 : Rich's family alongside
• 10/03/09 : Rich Wilson two and a half miles to the finish
• 10/03/09 : Rich Wilson approaching the finish