Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) is back in the Vendée Globe for the third time, but still remembers his retiral in New Zealand in the 2004 race: «In my head, I've already been through it all and the start in Les Sables doesn't mark the end or beginning of anything. For me, it is a continual process. I tell myself that: today, the goal is that… In the coming days there will be all sorts of other questions: how we will get out of the harbour area, make sure we don't collide with any other boats at the start line. And by then, in my head, we're already up to Monday or Tuesday. I'm trying to find the same state of mind that I was in before the start of the last Route du Rhum. You forget the most painful moments quickly enough and pick yourself up and start again… I'm also pleased to be returning to a place where it may be cold and not that easy at times, but that I really like. And there's something I haven't done for a long time that I want to do again: that is the second part of the course, even if the conditions in the Atlantic are hard on the way back… »

Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas) is able to set sail on his first Vendée Globe, not only because he is supported financially by a partner, who was already involved four years ago, but because Jean-Philippe Chomette is the owner of the boat. She is officially called Solune: «That means sunfish, but it is also the name of the son of Incal in the comic book by Moebius… »

Each Vendée Globe monohull has a number given by the Imoca class, but the skippers are able to choose their own number, which may be simply their lucky number or refer to a particular event. Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) has chosen the symbolic 360: «We're going to be sailing around the world, returning to the same point, which means we'll be going 360°! »

Some drops of rain can be expected today (Saturday) on the eve of the start of the Vendée Globe: a low-pressure area off Ireland is deepening and a front will mean the wind will veer from the south west (15 knots) to the west and strengthen this afternoon (25 knots). We can therefore expect a rather showery day, but it will remain mild with temperatures above 12° this morning and increasing to 18° this afternoon. The low pressure area is swirling around the south of Iceland and will be deepening further tomorrow; we can expect some strong south-westerlies.

The sea will be moderate for the start of the Vendée Globe at 13h02 with a twenty-knot south westerly wind, but for the thirty solo sailors is the Bay of Biscay is going to be rough. Still not that difficult until Monday lunchtime, it will become very heavy afterwards with 35-40 knots winds later in the day on Monday veering south to south westerly and strengthening to 45-55 knots. Fortunately this rough weather will rapidly move off after the two fronts go over and by midnight on Monday, there will be a 25-knot west to north westerly breeze taking the competitors down to cape Finisterre. The boats should be passing the tip of Spain early on Tuesday morning in much quieter weather wit a ten knot wind veering north-westerly and then northerly.

Tide times
Saturday 8th November: coefficient 38 - 43
High tide: 0h33 – 12h45
Low tide: 6h07 – 18h41
Sunday 9th November: coefficient 49 - 56
High tide: 1h22 – 13h34
Low tide: 7h05 – 19h33

In 2004, Norbert Sedlacek became the first Austrian to line up at the start of the Vendée Globe. A keel problem forced him to retire at Cape Town (South Africa). The former tram driver,who is now a chandler (Nauticsport) in Vienna, is setting sail aboard the same boat that he has strengthened and improved over the past two years. With one of the smallest budgets, he hopes to complete the voyage at his second attempt and to be able to build a new 60-foot boat for the next Vendée Globe. Here area few extracts from this morning's press conference…

 «I have an old boat, a small budget, but the experience of my first attempt. I would like to see IMOCAs taking off in German-speaking countries. If this Vendée Globe is successful for me, I would like to build a new 60-foot boat for the next race.»

 «My goal is to enjoy a great adventure, to sail well and return in under 110 days. If I end up somewhere around twentieth, it will be extraordinary. But I don't want to be last.»

 «After the 2004 Vendée Globe, I put the boat into the yard for two years in Port Bourgenay. An assistant and my son worked on her, taking her apart to improve and strengthen her. She weighs 800 kg less than four years ago. With a small budget (just 750,000 euros), it is not easy to change everything. But going to and fro from Vendée, we now have a lot of friends here and have been well supported. This human aspect is very important in this project. »

 «My supplies are 70% food that has come from Austria. I have got some French meals for festive occasions: birthday, New Year, Cape Horn. And as I really love Chinese noodles, I have 40 kg of them on board.»

A few interesting facts and figures about what has been taken aboard Roxy by Sam Davies:

Sails: The heaviest element. Taking into account the sails that are ready and those that are stowed.
117 kg of food: Samantha Davies is taking only freeze-dried food. But she loves her cup of tea with a touch of milk and is also taking a lot of chocolate with her, as this is something she enjoys. There are also 7kg of dry biscuits and 8.5kg of bread.
50 kg of clothes
30 kg of spare rope
25 kg: The weight of the hydro generator, which she will use to recharge her batteries
20 kg of tools for any repairs
20 kg of spare equipment: automatic pilot, electrical, hydraulic and electronic equipment
18 litres of drinking water: The Roxy Sailing Team has opted for two desalination units, one fixed and one portable. This option means Sam will only take 18 litres of water (2 packs) instead of the normal 72 litres. She will require 9 litres of drinking water for emergency purposes
14 kg: this is the weight of the cleaning and washing equipment required for the boat and Sam
14 kg is the weight of the engine parts (Belts...)
12 kg of deck fittings and 12kg of other products (adhesive tape, grease…)
10 kg of composites to allow repairs to be carried out
9 kg of spare computer equipment
8 kg of small items required to repair the sails (material and thread…)