The Vendée Globe village is forecast to experience another fine, sunny day thanks to a 1030 hPa high-pressure area stretching from the Azores to Germany. The temperatures remain stable between 9 and 14°C. A very light southerly wind can be expected today.

Tide times in Les Sables d’Olonne:
Thursday 23rd October 2008: coefficient 45 – 48
High tide: 1h23 – 13h47
Low tide: 6h28 – 19h22
Friday 24th October 2008 : coefficient 53 – 58
High tide: 2h25 – 14h47
Low tide: 7h44 – 20h28

That was the number of visitors to the Vendée Globe village during the first weekend of it being open. The week has got off to a good start with visits from the first groups of schoolchildren, in spite of some dull weather on Monday. More than 10,000 children are expected to attend during the three weeks leading up to the start of the race. With the sun returning, the conditions are once again ideal for a trip to visit the pontoons and all the events going on in the Vendée Globe village.

Samantha Davies sailed out to sea today to train for the start. The skipper of Roxy, the legendary 60´ boat aboard which Michel Desjoyeaux and Vincent Riou successively won the last two Vendée Globe races, timed how long it took to leave the quayside, pass through the harbour entrance channel, hoist the sails and make her way to the start area off Port Bourgenay.

Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch) today obtained his IMOCA certification, the final document necessary for him to complete his registration papers. The Austrian skipper has therefore become the thirtieth and final entrant to obtain his ticket for the sixth edition of the Vendée Globe.

Preparatory work is continuing apace for Hugo Boss´ surgery which is expected to begin tomorrow. According to Alex Thomson the first job is to cut away the damage to the hull side and cut away the bulkhead areas which need to be replaced and that will probably happen tomorrow. Multiplast should, he says, have the 5m by 2m replacement panel ready Thursday night or Friday. The rig repair is also reliant on the replacement spreader roots being made in Auckland, New Zealand. And Kiwi boat builder Paul Quinn, who ran the build of Offshore Challenges’ Farr designed Open 60 BT, and built the Amer Sports VO60’s is arriving to supervise the repair.

The skies, still veiled early this morning, will gradually clear, as a ridge of high pressure builds over the north west of France. Temperatures remain on the cool side ranging from 8 to 14°C today (Wednesday). The NNE´ly wind is currently around ten knots and will die away during the afternoon.

Tide times in Les Sables d’Olonne:
Wednesday 22nd October: coefficient 47 – 44
High tide: 0h04 - 12h31
Low tide: 5h06 – 17h59
Thursday 23rd October: coefficient 45 – 48
High tide: 1h23 – 13h47
Low tide: 6h28 – 19h22