Vendée Globe

Over six months on since he finished sixth in his first Vendée Globe, Steve White admits that only now is he actually getting back to normal, now fully energised and ready to push forwards hard towards the next Vendée Globe which has been his affirmed target since before Cape Horn during his last race.

The skipper has just taken the decision to push a little harder to sell his Open 60, Toe in the Water (ex-Gartmore) and to move on in search of a replacement newer boat, or to build a new one. "It is a great boat for someone coming in at the level which I did, looking for reliability at a sensible cost. It is a good leg up for someone working towards the next Vendée Globe. She will go round again without problems and is in the best shape ever since I got her.” The monohull has indeed just completed a four week refit in Caen.

For Steve, money continues to be tight and the economic situation has certainly not cut him and his family any slack, but things are looking up. “I’ve spoken to a lot of people since who wanted to help us move forwards and we have been looking at ways that they can. You go to speak to people now and they know what the Vendée Globe is about.”

In his ideal world White wants to have support signed up early in the New Year and move towards the Barcelona World Race, which he believes is the right way to prepare for the next Vendée Globe. "I learned a lot last time for sure but the learning curve is still steep. I’d definitely like to be based out of Port-la-Forêt. That is still the plan because really that is where you need to be. At the moment my French is not good enough to get a French sponsor, but I want to get there.”

Meantime White has been doing some speaking engagements, recalling his Vendée Globe story. There is no doubt that Steve White’s first Vendée Globe has merely spurred him on to do it again, better, and now he knows what it’s all about, he wants success all the more.
 

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