A lifetime dream

Steve White has certainly had an unusual career path. A trained jockey, whose life was changed when he experienced sailing around the legendary Fastnet Rock. “On the way back in my car, I decided that one day I’d take part in the Vendée Globe,” he explains. This was back in 1998, when Steve was 25 and had very limited experience of sailing. For ten years, he would acquire more and more experience and do his utmost to see his dream come true. He worked alongside Pete Goss and Chay Blyth, before becoming a training coach for the Global Challenge and winning the 2005 Transatlantic race in the 50-foot class.

There was still a long way to go before he could compete in the Vendée Globe and there were many hurdles along the way. But the British sailor was determined and ready to make a lot of sacrifices to see it all become reality. Without any hesitation, he mortgaged his house to buy the 60-foot IMOCA belonging to his compatriot Josh Hall... Having qualified for the Vendée Globe, Steve had to deal with some serious financial concerns, which were still jeopardizing his chances of lining up at the start. But with three weeks to go to the big day, the association Toe In The Water offered him their support. There was then a race against the clock and work needed to be done on the boat right up to the last moment.

After 109 days of sailing, all of Steve’s hard work was finally rewarded, when he finished in eighth place, which seemed almost like winning the race, after all he had been through. After this first successful round the world voyage, the British skipper has raised his sights and hopes to launch a campaign for the 2012 Vendée Globe.