Four skippers from the last Vendée Globe took part last weekend in the Spi Ouest-France in La Trinité sur Mer in Brittany. Sébastien Josse (BT) was given the job of tactician on Thomas Rouxel's Open 7.50 Défi Mousquetaires, which won the event in that category after twelve races were run in Quiberon Bay. The Open 7.50 Safran finished seventh. Marc Guillemot had entrusted the boat to Sébastien Audigane. Still in the same category, Arnaud Boissières (Akena Verandas) was on board F. Leonart's O’Tomate, but had to be satisfied with finishing sixteenth. As for Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2), he was accompanied by Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, the CEO of the Paprec Group on board the Sinergia 40 Paprec-Recyclage which was skippered by Stéphane Névé. The crew came second in IRC-1 just behind the Grand Soleil 43, Codiam. Finally, Samantha Davies (Roxy) was working as mainsail trimmer and helping out with tactics aboard a J-80 in the BMW Sailing Cup.

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…