Vendée Globe

October 26. 2008 at 17:43Cheminées Poujoulat taken out of the water

Bernard Stamm´s technical team has asked for permission to take Cheminées Poujoulat out of the water to carry out repairs on the engine mounting. During her delivery trip to Les Sables d´Olonne, the head of the shore team noticed some suspicious sounds, when the boat was motoring. After an inspection was carried out by a diver in the harbour in les Sables, the shore team found there was a hole around the engine mount. Even if during the Vendée Globe, the propellor is sealed in place and is therefore not used, the shore team preferred nevertheless to err on the side of caution and replace it: "It´s our job to ensure Bernard is completely relaxed before the start".

October 26. 2008 at 12:55Cheeeese

Time for a photo session for Jean Le Cam on board his VM Matériaux this Sunday morning. While this was going on, his shore team continued to work all out to check out the latest little adjustments.

October 26. 2008 at 10:58The Vendée Globe welcomes the motor boats

Fifteen launches will be present for the start. Fifteen brand new Bénéteau power cruisers will be allowing the various representatives of the press and media to watch the start from out at sea.

October 26. 2008 at 10:56Mainly cloudy with some sunny periods

The weather for today (Sunday): fairly clear skies this morning, but clouding over, although there will be some brighter periods. The temperature will be around 15°C. The south-westerly wind will blow between 15 and 18 knots.
Tide times for Les Sables d´Olonne:
Sunday morning: coefficient 74
High tide 2h50 - 4.83m
Low tide 8h37 - 1.38m
Sunday afternoon: coefficient 79
High tide 15h09 - 5.01m
 Low tide 21h05 - 1.14m

October 25. 2008 at 17:23Peacefully flowing in and out

The crowds of visitors continue to pour onto the Vendée Globe pontoons, while it feels like an Indian Summer in the harbour… They are turning up in their tens of thousands to grab a little of the dream for themselves. Between the village opening and 9 p.m. on Friday 24th October, already 150,000 people were recorded entering the village. Another record by Sunday evening?

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...