Vendée Globe

Lives in Les Sables d´Olonne Age : born on the 13th May 1968 Situation : Married, one child Vendée Globe achievements Third time he has entered the Vendée Globe (Shipwrecked in 1996-97, Eliminated in 2000-01)

Sponsor

The stubborn one

At the age of ten, Raphaël Dinelli was already making his own windsurfing boards and attempting his first crossing of the Arcachon Basin. At the age of twenty, he was a sales rep, but he quickly understood that the suit and tie were not really his cup of tea. He signed up to the National Sailing School in Quiberon, took all the exams and bought a boat to take part in the single-handed Figaro event. From that moment on, he became obsessed with the mythical round the world trip. As he had dreamt of taking part in this event ever since he was small, he set sail, in spite of the rules in 1996. The rest is history. After capsizing on Christmas Day in the Indian Ocean, he was only saved thanks to the extraordinary bravery of Pete Goss, who had to face some horrendous seas to rescue him, as his boat was beginning to sink off the South West of Australia. The youngest participant, who was miraculously saved in the race, Raphaël Dinelli earned himself the nickname that year: « the Pirate ».

Set out again in spite of the injuries
Dropped by his sponsor Sodebo in late 1998, he signed up again for the Vendée Globe, with the monohull (Budapest), which used to be sailed and was designed by the Hungarian Nandor Fa. A lot of people wondered: "Why on earth is Dinelli going back after what happened to him last time around? " The answer for him was as clear as the ocean itself: « Firstly, I looked back at my previous experience. Then, I realised I had had more pleasure than pain. We all experience fear. You just have to know how to deal with it. » Before his second start in 2000, « Raphu » expressed once again his huge pleasure in sailing, which motivated him, in spite of his injuries (he had spent more than 36 hours in water at 3°C).

2004, the year of maturity
In spite of a limited budget, the skipper of Sogal Extention carried out some important modifications to the boat: the keel and base of the hull were changed, the mast shortened and a 100kg « cradle » was installed aft in case he had the same accident as 4 years earlier. Thus, the boat would right itself in a minute. Raphaël Dinelli was setting sail "not to win, but to finish the trip". He was fulfilling a childhood dream, but finished the Vendée Globe without being placed, after he was forced to stop in Cape Town, South Africa, after colliding with a whale.
The Vendée Globe 2004 should be the event marking his maturity, as he hopes to finish on the leader board after this third attempt, which he has been busy preparing with his team; It has been four years now that he has been determined to enter this race again, and he has certainly become an essential character in this race because of his infinite obstinacy.

2000 - Took part in the Vendée Globe (Damaged. Not placed)
1998 - Rum Race : 3rd (beat the record for the distance covered in 24 h by a monohull)
1997 - Transat Jacques Vabre : 1st 50-foot monohull
1996 - Took part in the Vendée Globe (Shipwrecked in the Southern Seas)
1995 - Figaro single-handed event : 10th
1993 - Figaro single-handed event : overall 2nd Newcomer
1990 - French First Class 8 Championships : 1st

A broken stay on Akena Verandas > Read
End of the big rush for Dinelli > Read
Raphaël Dinelli will wait... > Read

An opening > Read
Raphael Dinelli > Read
The gang of eight, who are back again > Read
The gang of newcomers > Read
The gang of eight, who are back again > Read

Raphael Dinelli > low-res / broadbandAKENA > low-res / broadband

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