The gathering in Les Sables d’Olonne is also an occasion for a lot of racers to come from the Mini Transat, Figaro, match-racing, Olympic sailing, cruising, multihulls and records, to say goodbye to the solo yachtsmen taking part in the Vendée Globe and to get a good look at the deepest secrets of the monohulls. Thomas Coville, waiting for a weather opportunity to attempt the solo round the world record, Lionel Lemonchois back from his campaign, where he grabbed seven records, including the New York-San Francisco, San Francisco-Yokohama and Hong Kong-London, Anne Liardet a competitor in the 2004-2005 Vendée Globe, the Hungarian yachtsman, Nandor Fa, whose boat was bought by Raphaël Dinelli, Halvard Mabire after his success in Class’40 in the Quebec-Saint Malo… have all strolled along the pontoons in Port Olona and visited some of the thirty Imoca monohulls.

Here are some extracts from Michel Desjoyeaux's press conference (Foncia) in Les Sables d’Olonne this Tuesday:

The weather for the start? «We should have a quiet start on Sunday with a 15-20 knot south-westerly. These conditions won't put the boats under too much strain, and will allow everyone to get into their stride.»

Rhythm: «Eight years ago, I gave myself the goal of not exceeding an average of 20 knots per day. This time with so many determined racers taking part, we will certainly have to go faster than that. We're going to spend the first month with the accelerator stuck to the floor!»

Experience: «The fact that I've already done the Vendée Globe may not be a real advantage. It just allows me to feel more at ease with only a few days to go before the start. In previous races, four out of five winners were taking part for the first time. It requires a little innocence and a breath of fresh air!»

Forecast: «In 2000, I was 24 hours ahead of Ellen MacArthur. Four years ago, Vincent (Riou) finished 6 hours ahead of Jean (Le Cam). It wouldn't be surprising if this time the two at the front finish within sight of each other.»

Weather in the south: «In 2000, the forecasts were valid for five days. Now, we have sixteen-day forecasts, but which may not be very reliable. But they do allow us to plan for seven or eight days ahead. That enables you to look at what is coming up and avoid the worst storms. Moreover, the safety gates are further north than before and take us away from the worst gales.»

Vincent Riou (PRB), the winner of the 2004-2005 Vendée Globe explains what is happening during these final few days of preparation before the start on Sunday and what lies ahead in the solo round the world race: «I am trying to keep calm, and stop the pressure of the race from building too much. There is in fact no reason to pile on the pressure ... I know that I am capable of not making too many mistakes and even if I do make some, I've got the rest of the circumnavigation to catch up. I can say that it's going to be tighter than we're used to. There's no point in dreaming of one or two sailors making their getaway after a couple of days. As a racer, that is great, but you have to know how to prepare for that. .

Brian Thompson is used to the southern seas and it is therefore maybe not such a coincidence that the official registered name of Bahrain Team Pindar is so fitting for this Vendée Globe: "Arctic Tern" - "The Arctic Tern is a bird you find in the southern seas: It is also the logo for Pindar. »

From eleven this morning, the guests on the "Live from the Pontoons" programme will be in order, Jean Le Cam, Jeanne Grégoire, Marc Guillemot, Yann Eliès, Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty and Vincent Riou. However, Pierre-Louis Castelli and Frédéric Ottenhof will also be talking to Richard Silvani, from Météo France, who will run us through the conditions expected for the start on Sunday 9th November. "Live from the Pontoons", the Vendée Globe radio show can be heard every morning live on the website from 11h00.

80 is the number on the hull of Gitana

Loïck Peyron: «This is not the eightieth Gitana! The number is highly symbolic. The history of Gitana is not recent, as it dates back more than a century. We were up to Gitana 13 with the catamaran, aboard which Lionel has just set an amazing series of crewed records. The latest chapter in the epic story of Gitana has been written by Benjamin de Rothschild exclusively with multihulls. The fact that we are returning to monohulls offered us quite naturally an occasion to pay homage to the late Edmond de Rothschild, his father, who was the great monohull owner. When the boat was launched, Edmond would have been 80. That's why it's Gitana Eighty.»

62, the number on Brit’Air

Armel Le Cléac’h: «It doesn't really mean anything. We would have liked to have 29, as the Brit'Air HQ is in Morlaix (and 29 is the official number for the French department of Finistère - editor) , but that number was already taken. 62 was in fact the number of my Figaro, when I won the Transat AG2R alongside Nicolas Troussel. I have had this number for 4 years. At the time of the transatlantic race with Brit’Air, we spoke about flight 62 between Concarneau and St Barth’. Now, we're opening a new line between les Sables d’Olonne and les Sables d’Olonne...»

360, the number on Groupe Bel

Kito de Pavant: «If you think about it, as we're sailing around the world, the meaning of this number seems pretty clear, but people keep asking me that question… »