Vendée Globe

October 25. 2008 at 11:32PRB has already won!

The Head of the Board of PRB, Jean-Jacques Laurent is the longest serving sponsor in the race and the only one to have won twice. Remaining serene and ready to face the opposition, Vincent Riou's sponsor explains: "Both ourselves and Vincent have a more relaxed, laid-back attitude now. For the first time, we are back with the same skipper to write another chapter in this great story. This year's Vendée Globe looks fabulous. No one is going to want to give up any ground until the forties, so it is likely to be a quick start. After that, in the south it will be wisdom that shines through. As far as we are concerned, we are setting out feeling quite relaxed and with less pressure, as after all, we have already won."

October 25. 2008 at 11:27Mariachis and sombreros

Mexican music will be the star of the show tonight in the Vendée Globe village with Cocula offering us dances and songs from Central America... Tortillas will be extra.

October 25. 2008 at 10:44Today's sailings

Two competitors have requested the right to leave harbour from the Race Directors: Jean Le Cam's VM Matériaux and Marc Thiercelin's DCNS. A large number of skippers have decided to be on board their boats today in order to meet the public.

October 25. 2008 at 10:32The sun is coming out to play in Les Sables

Today, we can look forward to a sunny day, with a light 6 to 8 knot easterly wind, which will become variable and die away. Tide times for Les Sables d´Olonne: Morning: Coefficient 64 - High tide 3h13, 4m66 - Low tide 8h46, 1m64 Evening: Coefficient 70 - High tide 15h33, 4m90 - Low tide, 21h20, 1m35

October 24. 2008 at 13:18Concert

This evening (Friday) at 9.30, the Kaf La Kour group will be playing in Le VOG´, the Vendée Globe village bar. So we can look forward to some Afro-Ragga, Reggae and Ska...

October 24. 2008 at 13:15Today's sailings

Seven competitors have asked the race directors for the authorisation to sail out to sea this Friday. This does not mean they necessarily will. Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas), Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar), Sébastien Josse (BT), Yann Eliès (Generali), Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch), Dominique Wavre (Temenos II) and Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) have all obtained their authorisation.

October 24. 2008 at 12:17Overcast

The forecast today is for sunny periods and showers over the Vendée area. Things should improve again tomorrow, but for the moment the situation is not looking too good for Sunday.

Tide times in les Sables d’Olonne :
Friday 24th October 2008: coefficient 53 – 58
High tide: 2h25 – 14h47
Low tide: 7h44 – 20h28
Saturday 25th October 2008 : coefficient
High tide: 3h13 – 15h33
Low tide: 8h46 – 21h20

October 23. 2008 at 18:32Music in Les Sables

This evening, the Village bar, The VOG’ will welcome the Beach Band from Les Sables at 9.30. Jazz and swing on the programme this evening…

October 23. 2008 at 16:55Drying out

Spirit of Weymouth, Steve White’s monohull, was today treated to a little facelift on the underwater section of the hull. Lifted onto the hard yesterday, her undersides were entrusted to Karcher to remove the algae and barnacles, which were beginning to grow. The British skipper has to touch-up a little of the coating prior to applying some protective underwater paint and returning her to the liquid element.

October 23. 2008 at 16:27Four top models

Armel Le Cléac’h, Marc Thiercelin, Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat) and Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) were transformed into fashion models for Gala magazine during a photo session. They had their hair done, got made-up and dressed-up and played the game with a certain ease… despite amused grins from their shore crews!