The general meting of the Imoca class will be taking place in Barcelona this Friday (17th April) from 10h30 to 17h00. It will be preceded on Thursday by preparatory meetings on the following themes: technology, class rules and safety, the IMOCA championship and race calendar, the organisation and running of the class, communications and partnerships. The Fundació Navigació Oceànica Barcelona (F.N.O.B.) is taking care of the logistical aspects of the event and the closing evening, where Armel le Cleac’h will be receiving the title of 2008 Imoca world champion.

Following his fifth place in the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe on Bahrain Team Pindar, Brian Thompson was yesterday awarded the Order of Bahrain in a ceremony conducted by the King of Bahrain, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The prestigious accolade was awarded for Thompson's historic completion of the Vendee Globe - the first time a yacht carrying the Kingdom of Bahrain livery, has sailed around the globe. Speaking from Bahrain, Thompson stated once again that he would like to take part in 2012 … and will be aiming to win the race.

According to Jose Benavides, the manager of the FNOB*, which has just bought Gitana Eighty and Paprec-Virbac 2, the Spanish phone company, Telefonica, which has two boats taking part at the moment in the Volvo Ocean Race is watching closely the developments in the IMOCA class. It would not be surprising to see Telefonica becoming involved in the 60-foot ocean racing circuit... «Spain is making up for lost time in this area», explained Jose Benavides.

* FNOB : the Barcelona Ocean Racing Foundation (Fundació per la Navegació Oceànica de Barcelona)
 

The construction of the Verdier VPLP-designed 60-foot boat for Jean-Pierre Dick is due to begin this summer in a yard in New Zealand. Her launch is planned for April 2010. Still with the support of his partners Virbac and Paprec, Jean-Pierre Dick has already announced that he intends to take part for a third time in the Vendée Globe. The prospect of building two sisterships, as the French team did four years ago, remains a possibility.

*VPLP : Van Peteghem – Lauriot-Prévost

 

With the end of the Vendée Globe campaign for 2008-2009, and after a busy time with the media, Dee Caffari was able to take off on holiday for a few days, but has not forgotten all those, who worked with her over the past few months and years. Last weekend, a big party was organised for the whole team. Too many people to go aboard Aviva, but a celebration at sea seemed appropriate, which is why 200 people went a mile off shore off to Spitbank Fort, which was originally built to ward off a potential attack from the hostile French in the mid-nineteenth Century…

Six months after setting out from Weymouth, Toe in the Water is due to return to her home port on Thursday. After his eighth place in the Vendée Globe 2008-2009, her skipper Steve White will be sailing her home in the company of Sir Robin Knox Johnston, who has already expressed his admiration for the young British round the world sailor, who had so many financial worries before lining up at the start of the Vendée Globe. Toe in the Water will now be based in the new marina, which has just opened in Portland, which will be one of the host sites for the 2012 Olympics. Steve is due to receive a rapturous welcome at the Royal Dorset Yacht Club early on Thursday afternoon before celebrating with Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson in the evening.