Vendée Globe

Nationality : Australian Lives in Saint-Lunaire, France Age : born on the 5th May 1968 in Melbourne Situation : Single Vendée Globe achievements First time he has taken part in the Vendée Globe Web Site http://www.nickmoloney.com/skandia

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The sailor who has come a long way…

With
the exception of David Adams and Paul Larsen, Australia has had very
few representatives in the 50 or 60-foot Open class. That was until
Nick Moloney appeared on the scene. This young, 36-year-old Australian,
originates from the State of Victoria in Southern Australia. He spent
his childhood sailing in the region of Melbourne and began to race at a
very early age, while serving an apprenticeship for four years as a
plumber. Seemingly the Bretons are not the only people to have salt
water in their veins. On the other side of the planet, Moloney was
dreaming of going around the world. To begin with, he participated in
two America’s Cup campaigns  in 1992 and 1995 before sailing
non-stop around the world as part of the crew on board Toshiba in the
Whitbread in 1997-98. He thus achieved the first of the three goals he
had set himself. The second was to go round the world non-stop as
quickly as possible. His passion for sailing and his friendly nature
soon ensured that he was present on every extreme adventure. The
American Steve Fossett and the Frenchman Bruno Peyron quickly
understood that the wide grin on the Australian’s face and his rather
relaxed attitude hid a very real  rigour. It was on the fifth of
May 2002, on his 34th birthday, that Nick obtained the Jules Verne
Trophy aboard the Orange maxi-catamaran, where he was responsible for
every aspect of safety on board the boat. Mission accomplished.

Three ocean dreams: only one left to go
His
third and final objective is once again the trip around the world, but
single-handed this time around with the Vendée Globe. To achieve his
ultimate goal, Nick fought it out at first on the Mini circuit, like
most of the single-handed racers. But the experience was not that
encouraging for the Australian. In fact, during the 1999 edition, the
contenders set sail in a  a Force 8 gale, which really had a
dramatic effect on the flotilla and on Moloney in particular. His boat
rolled over after being hit by an enormous wave, leaving him upside
down for four minutes. Nick got out of this 360° roll alive, with a
broken arm and was forced to retire from the race. His entry into the
world of single-handed racing was therefore a little tough, especially
as Moloney had lived aboard this little 6.50 m boat for six months
before the start of the race due to the customary low Mini budget. At
that moment, he was financially and physically in rather an awkward
situation. His first single-handed race was over. But it was not going
to destroy his motivation or upset his Vendée Globe 2004 project. Since
then, he has shown what he is capable of by winning the EDS Atlantic
Challenge aboard Kingfisher alongside Ellen MacArthur and the Route du
Rhum in  2002 in the 50-foot class. In The Transat this year, Nick
Moloney finished 4th aboard the boat, which had won the Europe 1 New
Man STAR 2000, and rechristened Skandia. It is on board the same boat
that he hopes to finish in the top five in the Vendée.

2003 - Aboard Skandia The Transat : 4th
Atlantic Challenge: 5th
Transat Jacques Vabre : 6 th with Sam Davies
Fastnet Race : 5 th
2002 - Route du Rhum: 1st in the fifty footers on Ashfield Healthcare
Jules Verne record aboard the Orange maxi-catamaran alongside Bruno Peyron
2001 - Transat Jacques Vabre : 3 rd
EDS Atlantic Challenge : Winning co-skipper with Ellen MacArthur
2001/2000 - The Race aboard the maxi catamaran "Playstation"
1999 - Season in Mini class
1998 - Windsurfing Record for the Bass Straits crossing
1997 - Whitbread on "Toshiba" with Denis Conner
Sydney - Hobart : 1st
1995 and 1992 - America’s Cup alongside John Bertrand

English speakers together > Read
Never alone in the middle of the ocean > Read
Back in his own hemisphere > Read

Two races in one > Read
Full speed ahead for 2 weeks > Read
What exactly is going to happen today 7th November 2004? > Read
The gang of newcomers > Read

Nick Moloney > low-res / broadbandNick Moloney > low-res / broadbandNick Moloney > low-res / broadband

Nick Moloney (Eng) > Listen Nick Moloney (Eng) > Listen Nick Moloney (Eng) > Listen