It was before the milk was delivered this morning that Roland Jourdain set sail on a short trip to test the new sails on Veolia Environnement. Then at 10h00, Marc Thiercelin joined him out at sea on DNCS to sail until the evening tide. We should add that the thirty Vendée Globe monohulls can leave the pontoon in Port Olona for a few hours, as long as they have sought permission from the Race Committee.

Not a single cloud in the sky today (Sunday)! Brilliant sunshine in France thanks to a huge high-pressure area and Vendée is particularly lucky with nothing but blue skies forecast to day and clear skies throughout the night, perfect for stargazers. Tomorrow morning should start off the same way, but gradually a change will come from the north west during the afternoon… While thunderstorms are expected on Tuesday. As for the temperatures, rather on the cool side this morning, around 11°C, they will climb back up to above 17°C tomorrow afternoon. The easterly winds will remain light to moderate at around ten knots easing off to below eight knots during the day and veering southerly.

Tide times in Les Sables d’Olonne
Sunday 19th October: coefficient 81 - 74
High tide: 8h08 – 20h49
Low tide: 2h01 – 14h31
Monday 20th October: coefficient 66 - 58
High tide: 9h10 – 22h15
Low tide: 2h52 – 15h28

At daybreak this morning (Sunday), the two ladies taking part in the Vendée Globe were given a makeover for an unusual photo, which will appear in the French magazine, Paris Match. Dressed in evening gowns, the two yachtswomen posed alongside their monohulls moored side by side for the occasion.

Alex Thomson has indicated that no definitive decision will be taken before Monday, when his monohull Hugo Boss (hit by a fishing boat while just off Les Sables d’Olonne), will be fully assessed. The designers from the Finot-Conq Group and composite experts have taken it in turns to carry out their inspections, in order to calculate how much time it will take to repair the hull on the starboard side. As for the mast, several solutions are being considered. The Hugo Boss team will take their decision on Monday.

After the official photo of the thirty solo yachtsmen at the Vendée Globe pontoon this morning (Saturday) at eleven, all of the skippers went to the Palace cinema in Les Sables d’Olonne for the first official briefing. A friendly gathering to welcome the thirty sailors hosted by Philippe de Villiers, who stressed that «the Vendée Globe is something for everyone, for the yachtsmen and all those following them.» It gave the Vendée Globe organisers an opportunity to present the schedule for all the events taking place over the next three weeks leading up to the start on 9th November. In the presence of the Prefect and the Maritime Prefect, the President of the Vendée Council handed the microphone to the Mayor of Les Sables d’Olonne, Louis Guédon, who promised that «everything would be done to facilitate the skippers´ preparations.» Then the President of Sodeb’O, Patricia Brochart expressed her satisfaction at seeing just how popular this sixth Vendée Globe Race is.The Race Director, Denis Horeau confirmed the important briefings that lie ahead for the shore teams: *Monday 20th October (9h15): explanation of the measurement rule checks*Monday 20th October (10h00): explanation of the safety checks for the boats *Monday 3rd November (10h00): explanation of the arrangements put in place for the start *Saturday 8th November (10h00): briefing concerning the start and the weather… Then, Sylvie Viant, President of the Race Committee, Bernard Bonnot, President of the Protest committee, Jean-Luc Gautier, President of the Measurement Committee stepped forward to explain the race procedures before Sophie Vercelletto, the General Director of the Vendée Globe, finished the briefing with a presentation of the layout of the village and the work areas set up for the Vendée Globe. Philippe de Villiers invited all the solo yachtsmen to a private dinner and announced that the famous French broadcaster, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor would be firing the starting gun on 9th November!

It was at ten o'clock this Saturday morning (18th October) that the official Vendée Globe Village was declared open by the President of the Vendée Council, Philippe de Villiers. The public were immediately able to enter and discover 15,000 m2 of exhibitions and educational displays dedicated to the thirty sailors, who will be setting sail around the world in three weeks.