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November 04. 2008 at 06:59Final check-up

Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) back in Les Sables d’Olonne on Monday morning: «I didn't really do anything much: I was with the family away from all the fuss on the pontoons.  That meant I could get away from all that, but not completely away, as I continued to work on weather and software… as well as continuing my physical training!  There's nothing important left to do, but we need to keep an eye on the final touches, as if we keep saying "we're ready", that's when we tend to forget something.  But right now, I'm down to counting my spare tooth brushes and lip salve… We'll do one more final check, unfurl the sails one more time and do some changes of tack to ensure everything is just as we want.»

November 03. 2008 at 16:07Rich Wilson and the elections

For Rich Wilson, the skipper of Great American III, there is another hot news story coinciding with this final week of preparations: the U.S presidential election, which takes place tomorrow (4th November).  Rich talked in French yesterday about his choice and desires for his country in a short interview, which you can listen to in the Media Library (audio).

 

November 03. 2008 at 15:22Mike Golding, an affair of the head not the heart.

Before the start: « The three-week time period in Les Sables d'Olonne is starting to drag on a bit. It’s a bit like going on holiday.  The more time you have to get ready, the more you keep adding to the suitcase!”  ».
His preparation: «To be honest I am definitely not as well prepared. I think we’d done more sailing before the last time round, and the time before, so consequently I felt more at home with the boat than I do right now.»
His 60-foot boat: «This boat has been a bit of a bugger since the beginning. Someone asked me the other day: do you treat your boat like a person or a tool? I had to admit it was more like a tool. This boat is definitely in the tool department but hopefully it will do a good job for me and I suppose I might grow to like it more as time goes on.  I don’t think I’ll ever fall in love with her but hopefully we can make friends. Right now we’re not hitting it off, at all »
An upwind start? «This, I have to say, I wouldn’t mind at all because I think we are quite well placed for those conditions and she’ll [Ecover] do a good job.  The strengths of the Owen Clark designs are upwind and downwind. Reaching is our weakest point of sailing so I know I’ll have to work hard to hold my own reaching, harder than others I think.»

November 03. 2008 at 14:23One is the loneliest number

Yannick Bestaven: "This was the number of Yves Parlier's Aquitaine Innovations. Yves has supported me a lot in this project, so there was no way I was going to change the number..."

 

November 03. 2008 at 13:20The name game

Cheminées Poujoulat was actually christened  by Jean-Pierre Dick ien 2004 and her name has not been changed: «He named her «Absolute Dreamer» and I don't have the courage to change her name, as that is said to be unlucky!» explained Bernard Stamm.

November 03. 2008 at 13:09Why the number 1000?

1000 is the number displayed by Marc Thiercelin's Finot-Conq designed DCNS. It refers to the social policy included within his partnership project.  1000 is the number of young job applicants, who will be going through a training course with DCNS.

November 03. 2008 at 12:00Today's sailings

Five skippers requested permission to leave harbour today to test sails, electronics, rigging, communications systems… or simply for a jaunt with guests: Yannick Bestaven (Aquarelle.com), Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat), Steve White (Spirit of Weymouth), Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) and Sébastien Josse (BT).

November 03. 2008 at 10:35Live from the Pontoons on Monday

Live from the Pontoons on Monday

From eleven this morning, the guests on the "Live from the Pontoons" programme will be in order, Isabelle Autissier, Bernard Stamm and Arnaud Boissières.  However, Pierre-Louis Castelli and Frédéric Ottenhof will also be talking to Gérard Faugeron, a Councillor in Vendée about the Vendée Globe educational project. "Live from the Pontoons", the Vendée Globe radio show can be heard every morning live on the website from 11h00.

November 03. 2008 at 09:00Damp, but mild

Still under the influence of a thundery low-pressure area, which is hardly moving now over the Bay of Biscay, today's weather (Monday) will tend to be overcast with some outbreaks of light rain and showers around midday. The temperatures will be slightly above the seasonal average with ten degrees this morning and around twelve this afternoon. The easterly wind around twelve knots off Les Sables d’Olonne will gradually ease off during the evening.

Tide times
Monday 3rd November: coefficient 56 - 51
High tide: 6h58 – 19h11
Low tide: 1h10 – 13h33

Tuesday 4th November: coefficient 46 - 42
High tide: 7h43 – 20h03
Low tide: 1h50 – 14h17

 

November 03. 2008 at 06:00International jury

To ensure that the rules laid down by ISAF (the world sailing authority) are respected, an international jury has been appointed:  It will make judgements as quickly as possible contacting the competitor(s) by e-mail, if required.  This protest committee is presided over by Bernard Bonneau (FRA), assisted by the vice-President, Christian Peyras (FRA) aided by Ion Echave (ESP), Trevor Lewis (GBR) and Jean Vermant (BEL).