The SAEM Vendée is delighted to welcome MaxSea International, the French specialist in navigation software as the first Official Supplier of the Vendée Globe.

In the run-up to the 7th edition of the race that leaves on 10th November 2012 from Sables d’Olonne (Vendée, France), the non-stop solo round the world race without assistance, is consolidating its new marketing structure. The official supplier has joined the organization already headed by the three Official Race Sponsors and historic investors – the Vendée, the city of Sables d’Olonne and Sodebo.

MaxSea International, based in Bidart (Basque Country, France) will supply the Vendée Globe Race Management with the software necessary to track the race participants. As was the case in both the 2004 and 2008 editions, the software will allow the interface of the fleet’s position and route on specially adapted round the world racing cartography; as such enhancing and assisting the experience and comprehension for numerous race fans following the Vendée Globe official web site on a daily basis.

MaxSea International is the European market leader and the benchmark in tools for navigational aid. Created in 1985 MaxSea International has made extensive growth overseas with a large range of products for all three maritime sectors; - leisure, commercial fishing and merchant vessels. The company strives to provide and share their know-how with all the actors of the world’s maritime fleet and to participate in the evolution of any professional or leisure aspect of navigation. With close to 40,000 installations worldwide, MaxSea software is today sold in 25 countries, on 5 continents and supplied in 13 languages.

It's official - Armel Le Cléac'h will join the start line at Sables d'Olonne on 10th November. The skipper from Finistère's pre-registration has just been confirmed by the Race Management. Second in the last edition of the Vendée Globe, the skipper will be helming the 60 foot Banque Populaire; launched in 2010 it will be one of the newest boats on the start line.
In the run-up to the start the sailor nicknamed "le chacal" (lit. the 'jackal') for his great tenacity has a particularly full training programme that includes the Europa Race in the spring. A mixture of single-handed and team racing legs, the race around Europe is an ideal format to prepare both man and boat ahead of the legendary race.
 

Used to showing off his talents, the intrepid skipper of the Hugo Boss monohull, Alex Thomson had no hesitation in repeating his famous keel walk on his boat completely heeled over. Diving in at the deep end, you might say, for the brand for whom he flies the flag and wears the suit.

The sailor Bertrand de Broc has decided to relaunch his campaign “Your name around the world” in order to line up at the start of the next Vendée Globe on Saturday 10th November. The sailor from Quimper is trying to get together a budget of 1.5 million euros by offering 30,000 people the opportunity to contribute 50€. In the 1996-1997 Vendée Globe, De Broc managed to get the money for his project with more than 6000 people signing their names on the hull of his boat.

Second in the last Barcelona World Race with Xabi Fernandez, just behind Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron, the Spanish skipper Iker Martinez is building up the points in the current Volvo Ocean Race in which he is competing on the Team Telefonica monohull. The Spaniard, who finished in third place in the last edition, has just won the first three legs of the crewed round the world race in Cape Town, Abu Dhabi and Sanya (China).

Alex Thomson’s monohull Hugo Boss was taken out of the water earlier this week and is about to undergo a number of repairs and technical improvements. After taking part in the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre and the solo Transat B to B, a lot of work is necessary in the coming months, before she is relaunched in the spring.