At the Grand Pavois Boat Show, which is currently taking place in La Rochelle, the Franco-Italian skipper Alessandro Di Benedetto, who became famous on 23rd July, when he completed a 268-day single-handed round the world voyage aboard a 6.50 mini, has declared that he is launching a project to take part in the 2012 Vendée Globe. A few days before the start of the race between Les Sables/ the Azores / Les Sables this summer, he took his first steps on an IMOCA monohull sailing aboard Akena Vérandas with Arnaud Boissières. More information to follow...

In a press release, where he presents the impact on his company of sponsoring Arnaud Boissières, Christophe Chabot CEO of Akena Vérandas, has declared that he would like to see him finish in the Top 5 in the next Vendée Globe: "We were lucky enough to complete two Vendée Globe races, finishing twelfth the first time and seventh after that, which is quite something. That means that the pressure is now on us. Our project is now sufficiently developed to allow us to hope for a place in the Top 5, although if we look at the statistics, it is not that encouraging, as I don’t believe any owner has managed to complete three Vendée Globe in a row. We’re not going to be taking part for the sake of it. We really want to go for it, which means we have to be ready to take risks."

Jérémie Beyou has said that he would like to take part in the 2012 Vendée Globe and is currently trying to set up this project. Working in particular on finding the required budget, Jérémie has already identified a few boats that he would be interested in buying, so that he can propose a complete package to any potential partner.

Thirty two skippers are on the list of candidates taking part in the tests organised by the new Artemis Academy in England. This selection process will decide who will be taken on to follow the training courses, the aim of which is to help British talent develop to be able to compete in ocean racing events at an international level. This project is in particular looking forward to the 2016 Vendée Globe, as up until now only two British skippers have reached the Vendée Globe podium: Ellen MacArthur, who finished in second place in 2000-2001 and Mike Golding in third place in 2004-2005. We should add that among the 32 skippers, who have passed the first hurdle, there is Conrad Humphreys, who was a stand-out performer in the 2004-2005 Vendée Globe, when he finished in seventh place on Hellomoto.

Like many others, Gildas Morvan, one of the top names in the Figaro class, is dreaming of taking part in the Vendée Globe and is currently looking for a sponsor to allow him to line up at the start in 2012. Gildas, twice winner of the title of French single-handed offshore racing champion, is currently taking part in the 2010 Solitaire du Figaro race in the English Channel, the Bay of Biscay and the Celtic Sea with stopovers in France, Spain and Ireland.

Jean-Pierre Dick is on his final day of sailing aboard his new 60-foot monohull after covering some 12,000 miles (22,200 km) or in other words sailing halfway around the world since he left Auckland 79 days ago. Virbac-Paprec 3 is due to arrive in Lorient tomorrow (Thursday 5th August) some time after noon local time, and will come alongside the pontoons in the Keroman submarine base. This long voyage will have enabled Virbac-Paprec 3 to be tested in the southern ocean and in the Atlantic and qualify for the two major races scheduled for the end of the year: the Barcelona World Race and the Route du Rhum.

Jean-Pierre Dick: « Today Wednesday 4th August, it was grey and dull at daybreak. Alone in the Atlantic, you start to wonder sometimes what on Earth you’re doing in this bit of black carbon. When you go outside, you start to understand. A few minutes under the dome and you can see just how the boat cuts through the water with spray flying up over the coach roof. When you’ve got some air, it’s all the more enjoyable, with the boat heeled over and gliding along in the mist at more than 20 knots with peak speeds of 23.5 knots. Sheer enjoyment!”