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September 06, 2007Jonny Malbon goes it alone

The British yachtsman, Jonny Malbon has just returned home after a week of training alone on board Artemis. He sailed the Open 60 into Cowes on Tuesday evening after a voyage out into the Atlantic past the Scillies to the South of Ireland. Here’s what he had to say on arriving home, " A lot of good things came of the training sail and it was a testament to how the boys had worked, the boat was brilliant and trouble free for the whole trip. A big learning curve for me for sure, and just a step towards the big one next year. I was really happy out there and I´m sure that when the competition side of things come into play, then I will relish the experience even more."

September 06, 2007First sail for Spirit of Canada

On Friday, Derek Hatfield’s Open 60, Spirit of Canada had her first sail while taking part in the celebrations for the Canadian military air display team, the Snowbirds. The team’s pilots, who flew past the monohull were able to experience her for themselves this week on the boat’s second sail. Derek Hatfield will shortly be making an announcement about his Vendée Globe qualifying run. Meanwhile onboard visits are being organised to stimulate the interest of the Canadian public.

September 03, 2007Groupe Bel has come out of the yard

The 60-ft Open monohull Groupe Bel, designed by Guillaume Verdier and the Van Peteghem - Lauriot Prévost team, came out of the Indiana Boating boatyard in Tuscany today. The most recent addition to the IMOCA fleet to be skippered by Kito de Pavant will be launched mid-week before sailing for the first time off the Italian coast. She will then head for her home port of Port Camargue. On 3rd November, in Le Havre, Kito de Pavant and Sébastien Col will be lining up for the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre to head for Salvador de Bahia in Brazil.

August 24, 2007Dame Ellen still thinking of the Vendée Globe

In an interview with BBC radio this morning, Ellen MacArthur toned down what she said a few months back about sailing single-handed around the world. While reiterating that she did not wish to take part in the 2008 Vendée Globe, Dame Ellen made it clear that she does not exclude taking part in the 2012 race.

August 21, 2007Desjoyeaux - three times winner

On Tuesday 21st August, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) won his third Solitaire Afflelou Le Figaro thanks to a sterling performance, where during each leg he was up in the top three. He thus equals the three victories achieved by Jean Le Cam and Philippe Poupon in the event. \"The standard of the competition and the interest in each leg makes this win all the more enjoyable. All of the boats sailed well and all the racers are capable of making the right moves, and not being content with being behind. That’s why I wanted to be in it: a fight, a confrontation.\" That is something he will surely find in the next Vendée Globe too.

August 20, 2007Groupe BEL to be launched in September

Designed by the Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prévost team, in conjunction with Guillaume Verdier, Kito de Pavant’s boat (Groupe Bel) will be launched in early September in Rosignano, south of Livorno in Italy. \"There’s still a lot to do,” explained Kito. \"We\'re currently fitting the boat out and installing the equipment, before the painting can begin in a few days.\" Since the deck was fitted in mid-July, all of the pieces of the puzzle have been coming together. The keel, daggerboards and hydraulic systems were made in Milan, the winches in England, parts for the rig in Spain, the sails and rudders in La Trinité (Southern Brittany), and finally the mast in Montpellier.