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December 11, 2007Cruel test results for the 60-footers racing

It has clearly been a tough winter for the 60-foot monohulls. After Pindar and Artemis dismasted before and during the Transat Jacques Vabre, and then Armel Le Cléach’s Brit’Air lost her mast in the Transat Ecover B to B, it is the Barcelona World Race, the two-handed round the world race that has cost three boats dearly out of the nine taking part, and not the most insignificant ones. Thus, Vincent Riou and Sébastien Josse’s PRB, the outright favourite had to abandon the race and has just reached Cape Town after breaking off the top of her mast. Then Guillermo Altadill and Jonathan McKee’s Estrella Damm was also forced to head for South Africa suffering from rudder damage. This was followed by the complete dismasting of Jérémie Beyou and Sidney Gavignet’s Delta Dore, which occurred early this morning (Tuesday 11th December) in the forties, more than a thousand miles from the South African coast. Fortunately none of this damage led to any injuries to those on board, but it is clear that there will be a lot of repairs and preparation work to do again in 2008 before they can enter the Vendée Globe. Especially as all of the above dismastings occurred in what were tough conditions, but certainly nothing extreme in 25 to 40-knot winds. The goal of all those attempting the Everest of the seas was to check out their boat before the Vendée Globe, but they probably did not expect these tests to be so cruel.

December 04, 2007Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty and Norbert Sedlacek to enter the race

Clearly the Vendée Globe 2008/2009 is an attractive proposition. Two more skippers have just confirmed their pre-registration for the round the world race that will begin in Les Sables d’Olonne: the Austrian yachtsman, Norbert Sedlacek and the Frenchman, Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty. There will therefore be at least 27 sailors taking part in the Everest of the Seas sailing single-handed around the globe. A first.The Austrian yachtsman, Norbert Sedlacek, 45 years old is setting out again in the hope of completing the voyage: in the last edition of the Vendée Globe, a damaged keel forced him to retire from the race. He is back to complete his dream on board the same boat that he managed to sail back and repair, showing some exceptional determination.The young French designer-yachtsman Jean-Batiste Dejeanty, will only be 30, when he sets sail in the Vendée Globe and this is of course, his first attempt. The Norman has already taken part twice in the Transat Jacques Vabre, on board the boat he built himself.The two men may not be favourites for the great single-handed race around the planet, but they will certainly willingly accept the title of strong outsiders.

October 15, 2007Spirit of Canada in Halifax

Derek Hatfield arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia this week on board his Open 60, Spirit of Canada. He was greeted by a gale in the Canadian port, but Hatfield remained calm, pointing out that a third of the Vendée Globe race will be carried out in such conditions. It took him four days to reach the port of Caraquet on the Gulf of Saint Laurence, then after a short stopover a few more days to reach Halifax. Still just as enthusiastic about his machine, Derek said on his arrival, \"She’s a beast, but gradually we’re taming her!” The boat is clearly very demanding physically, as it takes 20 minutes of hard work on the grinder to hoist the 175 m² of sail. However, on the other hand, according to VPP results, the boat should be able to reach a top speed of 38 knots. Next Friday, Spirit of Canada will undergo the compulsory Imoca righting test, then Derek and his team will be preparing the boat for his qualifying run for the Vendée Globe 2008-2009, between Bahia and Brittany. In the spring, the monohull will be back in Halifax Harbour, where the Canadian yachtsman will be setting up trips around the bay for his many sponsors.

October 14, 2007Erik Orsenna names Bernard Stamm’s 60-foot boat

Bernard Stamm’s 60-footer, Cheminées Poujoulat was named on Saturday 13th October in La Rochelle by the French author, Erik Orsenna, in the company of the CEO of the Cheminées Poujoulat Group, Frédéric Coirier: «Our ongoing commitment to Bernard started back in 2003 and the forthcoming Vendée Globe will mark the climax of our project together. Bernard Stamm: “I finally got to meet Erik ten minutes ago. We talked on the phone several times during my last round the world voyage, when I was in the southern seas. We had a lot to say to each other and we have some friends in common. A few years back, I replaced his cousin on a boat in Brittany. Eric’s vision of the sea is quite close to mine. I believe I’d be right to say that it’s a vision that everyone should share today.» Erik Orsenna: “There’s one thing I find very unpleasant and that is the fact that we have just one life on Earth. When I was younger, I dreamt of being a top sportsman, but unfortunately that was a complete failure, even if I gave it a good try in fact in several sports. So, I told myself if I couldn’t be a sportsman, the next best thing would be to be guest sponsor! I have always been truly passionate about the sea and sailing, so I’d just like to say I’m really pleased to be the patron of Bernard’s boat.”

October 02, 2007Paprec-Virbac 2 back in the water

Paprec-Virbac 2 is in the water with her new keel blade. The team took advantage of this setback to carry out a complete check-up of the boat. Jean-Pierre Dick: \"This relaunch is a great moment. The whole team worked hard to elaborate and develop Paprec-Virbac 2. I think most of her teething problems – which are normal on a prototype – are now smoothed over. We’ll be out sailing this week to test everything, before heading further out next week. We can’t wait to get sailing, getting used to her again and putting into practice all our preparatory work.\"

September 19, 2007Hugo Boss came down from Heaven

A magnificent light show took place last night over the Elbe in Hamburg to present Alex Thomson’s new Hugo Boss to the Germans. A laser show lit up the sky above the fish market spotlighting the black monohull descending ninety metres from the air with the help of a crane. Alex was obviously delighted, \"She is the most powerful, the most elegant and the most beautiful boat I have ever had in my sailing career. A great design, built to win!\"