Vendée Globe

The vocation without the funding

There are two ways of launching an Open 60 campaign: the easy way and the hard way. Steve White seems to have chosen the second path. For ten years, Steve has had the burning desire and the strong ambition to take part in the Vendée Globe. Unlike most of the 60-foot Open skippers, Steve is not benefiting from the support of a major sponsor, so is constantly struggling giving everything he has to reach his goal. He has mortgaged his house to buy Spirit of Weymouth, previously known as Gartmore and Pindar. While working hard to find a financial partner. He has built up some huge personal debts to finance this campaign. We should therefore not underestimate a skipper, who has come so far in his project without a sponsor. Some fine-tuning work on his boat in conjunction with his relentless determination will enable Steve White to be a solid competitor, when he lines up at the start of the forthcoming Vendée Globe.

Press Contact : Kim White
kim@whiteoceanracing.com

• Winner of the 2005 Ostar (50-foot category)
• 2nd in the 2002 Transatlantic Challenge (Winner of the second leg)

On the 60’ « Spirit of Weymouth »
• 8th in the 2007 Fastnet Race
• 8th in the 2008 Artemis Challenge

A tried and tested boat, but one that remains competitive. With all the hard work to ensure she is well prepared without any real financial means, Steve White knows that he is not a serious contender for a podium place. However, there will still be the satisfaction of sailing around the world, showing that he was right to believe in himself.

Boat - Designer: Finot-Conq - Boatyard: JMV Cherbourg - Launch date: May 1998 - Previous names of the boat and previous skipper : Gartmore, Pindar, Objectif 3 - Length: 18.28m (60’) - Beam: 5.60m (18’4’’) - Draught : 4.50m (14’9’’) - Displacement (weight) : 9000 kg - Mast height: 25m (82’) - Keel blade: carbon - Upwind sail surface: 246m2

© François Chevalier

• 06/04/09 : Toe in the Water going home
• 12/03/09 : Steve back home and looking forward
• 27/02/09 : Photos of Steve finishing
• 26/02/09 : Steve White takes eighth place
• 23/02/09 : Steve's tour of the islands