Vendée Globe

Vendée Globe http://www.vendeeglobe.org/ Vendée Globe official web site fr-FR Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:50:33 +0100 New : Alex Thomson with Hugo Boss for the 2012 Vendée Globe http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9900/alex-thomson-with-hugo-boss-for-the-2012-vendee-globe.html Today’s announcement means that the British sailor, who is just about to set out on the double-handed race from Le Havre to Puerto Limon (Costa Rica) will be lining up for the start of the Route du Rhum in November 2010, then the Barcelona Race. Thomson will be back again with Ross Daniels as his co-skipper for this round the world race and is said to be pleased to be able to continue with Hugo Boss: “I look forward to putting together a very competitive team for the Barcelona World Race and the next Vendée Globe.”   For this press conference, Alex was accompanied by Sir Keith Mills, CEO of TeamOrigin, who also expressed his pleasure at hearing this news. “I have known and worked with Alex over the last ten years and the reason I have supported him over that period is that I think he is an exceptionally talented sailor. And with this support from Hugo Boss we hope that over the next four years we hope that Alex can realise his dreams and become the first British sailor to win the Vendée Globe.”  Before all that, the Transat Jacques Vabre will be Alex’s final race aboard the black Finot-designed Hugo Boss, as he will be taking over the former Pindar, which was skippered by Brian Thompson in the last Vendée Globe. Alex Thomson explains his strategy: “I think everyone knows there were changes to the IMOCA rules which limits the power of the boats and so for us it made sense to buy the most powerful boat we can. For me power is speed. It is now impossible for someone to build a new boat this powerful. The big question is whether we can use all that power, and I believe we can.”   2009-11-07 19:11:12 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9900/alex-thomson-with-hugo-boss-for-the-2012-vendee-globe.html Newswire : Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson sailing together on Aviva http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/newswire/9896/dee-caffari-and-brian-thompson-sailing-together-on-aviva.html On Sunday 8 November, British sailing duo Dee Caffari and Brian Thompson will start in the ninth edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre onboard the Open 60 Aviva. The Transat Jacques Vabre will be the first competitive race for Dee since the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe. Joining Caffari, Thompson and Aviva on the start line, will be 13 other Open 60s. The 4800-mile course will be the first time Caffari and Thompson have sailed two-handed together having been rivals throughout the 2008 / 09 edition of the Vendée Globe. Dee Caffari said: “I can’t wait to be back out on the water racing Aviva and the opportunity to sail with Brian as co-skipper is fabulous. We were so close to each other during the Vendée Globe it’s as if we’ve already spent a lot of time sailing together.” Brian Thompson added: "We have a quick boat and get on well together so I believe we will be competitive out there. With so many new Open 60s racing it is going to be intense, but very exciting."   2009-11-02 12:44:34 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/newswire/9896/dee-caffari-and-brian-thompson-sailing-together-on-aviva.html New : Back together again in the Atlantic http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9894/back-together-again-in-the-atlantic.html A final outing, an opportunity to gain revenge, a springboard for the future, this transatlantic race, while bringing together again some of the top names from the last Vendée Globe will not necessarily mean the same thing to them all. For some, it is an opportunity to complete a story before looking towards the future, for others a chance to get their own back after fate was unkind to them last winter, hoping for better days to come. And then for a few, it will also provide them with a springboard to allow them to fulfil their ambitions in the future… Signing off in style Michel Desjoyeaux and Dee Caffari both provided us with some wonderful pages in the annals of the last Vendée Globe. The former by becoming the first competitor to win this exceptional race twice, after charging around the planet like some hero in a John Ford western. The latter, with her humour and determination, became the first woman to sail around the world alone in both directions. As Brits love to do things differently from others, Dee began by sailing the "wrong" way around the world, which did not make it any easier to compete with those more used to the IMOCA circuit. For both of them, the Transat Jacques Vabre is an opportunity to close the chapter in style. A new beginning For others this race will mark the beginning of a new chapter: Arnaud Boissières is setting off with the same partners but on Vincent Riou's former boat, hoping to further his ambitions, after his magnificent seventh place in the last Vendée Globe. Sam Davies has never hidden her intention to be there again at the start in 2012 at the helm of a new boat, while others are continuing to the next edition of the race, like Armel Le Cléac’h and Alex Thomson. This race is also the occasion to see the arrival of a Spanish contingent, which wishes to show that they have their place in the international 60-foot IMOCA circuit, and maybe even at the forefront… New hopes For those who suffered damage in the last Vendée Globe, this transatlantic race is also an opportunity to show that that is now behind them. Kito de Pavant and Marc Guillemot will want to show what their Verdier designed boats are capable of. Others will wish simply to put the past well and truly behind them, like Mike Golding, Alex Thomson, Sébastien Josse, Roland Jourdain and Marc Thiercelin. Several of them were up at the front in the race before they were forced to throw in the towel. So it is now time to be positive and they are telling themselves that history cannot repeat itself and that maybe this time justice will mean they will find their way to the podium. A balance of passion and reason We must not forget that this is a two-handed race and the event has brought together pairs for this transatlantic race. For some of them, the unlikely pairing means they can bring together their various skills. While for others it is a question of sticking with your trusted partner: some have known each other for so long that they are not about to change their habits now. Sometimes, the aim is to pass on their knowledge and experience. The main thing is that they must work as a pair in the race… The results and the atmosphere on board are good indicators, even if we know full well that these sailors have what it takes to put up with living together in a confined space. In the end, there will be sixteen former Vendée Globe competitors in this Transat Jacques Vabre. Fifteen of them will be fighting against each other aboard IMOCA boats, while one will be off elsewhere. Jean Le Cam will be joining Yves Le Blévec aboard his Multi 50. But we have all known for a while that the sailor from Port la Forêt enjoys a bumpy ride doing things differently.   2009-10-29 19:12:50 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9894/back-together-again-in-the-atlantic.html New : The new PRB has arrived in Port-la-Forêt http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9891/the-new-prb-has-arrived-in-port-la-foret.html The hull of PRB was built at the Larros boat yard in Gujan Mestras, using the mould that was used for Marc Guillemot's Safran. Some immaculate work as Vincent Riou explains: 'I'm really pleased about the quality of the work carried out by the Larros yard. Not only has Thierry Eluère done a wonderful job, but he managed to do it to schedule. » As for the internal structure, this was made by the Italian yard, Refrashini, while the deck was built at CDK. It is here too that the various elements for the boat will be assembled. This work has indeed already started, as the deck and hull are finished, while the structural parts will be arriving individually in Brittany. The deck is due to be completely fitted by the end of November.   2009-10-08 19:30:36 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9891/the-new-prb-has-arrived-in-port-la-foret.html Newswire : Vincent Riou suffers a minor injury http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/newswire/9889/vincent-riou-suffers-a-minor-injury.html Vincent Riou has cracked a bone in his foot after falling from a ladder. He is being well looked after by the orthopaedist at Lorient Football Club and will be using crutches and a splint for ten days, but should be well enough to take part in the final training session alongside Arnaud Boissières on Monday 19th October. Although this accident is rather annoying at this stage, it does not throw into question his taking part in the Transat Jacques Vabre. After resting today, he will be visiting the yard tomorrow to see how work is progressing on his new monohull. 2009-10-08 19:11:09 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/newswire/9889/vincent-riou-suffers-a-minor-injury.html New : Steve White looking forward to 2012 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9886/steve-white-looking-forward-to-2012.html The skipper has just taken the decision to push a little harder to sell his Open 60, Toe in the Water (ex-Gartmore) and to move on in search of a replacement newer boat, or to build a new one. "It is a great boat for someone coming in at the level which I did, looking for reliability at a sensible cost. It is a good leg up for someone working towards the next Vendée Globe. She will go round again without problems and is in the best shape ever since I got her.” The monohull has indeed just completed a four week refit in Caen. For Steve, money continues to be tight and the economic situation has certainly not cut him and his family any slack, but things are looking up. “I’ve spoken to a lot of people since who wanted to help us move forwards and we have been looking at ways that they can. You go to speak to people now and they know what the Vendée Globe is about.” In his ideal world White wants to have support signed up early in the New Year and move towards the Barcelona World Race, which he believes is the right way to prepare for the next Vendée Globe. "I learned a lot last time for sure but the learning curve is still steep. I’d definitely like to be based out of Port-la-Forêt. That is still the plan because really that is where you need to be. At the moment my French is not good enough to get a French sponsor, but I want to get there.” Meantime White has been doing some speaking engagements, recalling his Vendée Globe story. There is no doubt that Steve White’s first Vendée Globe has merely spurred him on to do it again, better, and now he knows what it’s all about, he wants success all the more.   2009-10-07 12:40:11 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9886/steve-white-looking-forward-to-2012.html New : Michel Desjoyeaux wins the race around Europe http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9883/michel-desjoyeaux-wins-the-race-around-europe.html Six boats lined up for the start in Istanbul for this race around Europe, with the fleet heading for Brest via Nice and Barcelona. Among those lining up there was Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia), but also Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement), Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) sailing for the final time aboard his Farr designed boat, Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel), Marc Thiercelin (DCNS) and a Spanish crew entering the IMOCA circuit, led by Guillermo Altadill (1876) aboard Loïck Peyron's former boat. In other words, some top names, particularly as those accompanying them have also had some fine successes in the Figaro circuit, like Gildas Morvan, François Gabart, Eric Drouglazet or Sébastien Audigane, holder of the round the world and the North Atlantic records. The Mediterranean lived up to its reputation: in general, the sailors spent more time looking for wind and trying to avoid the wind shadow than actually going for all out racing. However, this did not stop the race from being very exciting with three different leg winners and a few surprises as we look forward to the Transat Jacques Vabre. The first names that come to mind are those of the winners of the first leg, the Spanish crew of 1876, Guillermo Altadill and Pachi Rivero, who battled it out with the other competitors, who might not have been expecting so much of this crew taking part for the first time aboard an IMOCA 60. The second element that stands out is that they all had more or less the same level in this race, as the position of leader changed with each ranking and the final result was far from a certainty until a few hours before the finish. We could clearly see that with three different winners in three legs, 1876, Groupe Bel then Foncia. In the end, Michel Desjoyeaux came top of the rankings on points, as the three aforementioned boats were on equal footing with him as they set out on the final leg from Barcelona – Brest. Whoever won this final leg would automatically win the race. We can certainly say that this was a very exciting race and that the crews particularly appreciated it. The format of a crewed race with stopovers proved to be extremely interesting in terms of those taking part, marking for the older entrants a return to the spirit of the Round Europe Race from the golden age of the nineties. We should leave the final word to the winner of this edition, which should encourage others to sign up in the future. "In fact this crewed race with stopovers corresponded to a demand from the Imoca class: this is a winning formula. I may be repeating myself, but I hope we proved that those, who weren't in the race, should have been there."   2009-10-02 20:13:46 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9883/michel-desjoyeaux-wins-the-race-around-europe.html Newswire : Training off Brittany http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/newswire/9880/training-off-brittany.html Three IMOCA 60 monohulls carried out a joint training session this week off the southern coast of Brittany. Artemis with Sam Davies on board set sail from Port-le-Forêt alongside BT for a speed trial to Quiberon, where they met up with Marc Guillemot's Safran. The three monohulls took advantage of the strengthening north-easterly wind to sail further away from the the coast under spinnaker. With a wind reaching thirty knots, they furled the spinnaker to head up towards Ushant. These were perfect conditions to test the various configurations and to get used to such sailing conditions. At dawn, the three boats headed back towards Penmarc'h in SW Brittany. Sam freely admits that the speed of Artemis tends to drop off when reaching and Jonny Malbon's former monohull is certainly much more demanding than her old Roxy.   2009-09-19 20:17:25 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/newswire/9880/training-off-brittany.html New : Alex Thomson at the helm of Pindar http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9878/alex-thomson-at-the-helm-of-pindar.html Here is Alex Thomson's reaction to the news: “I have wanted to work alongside Juan for some time now, and this is a great opportunity to do that over the next three years. I believe that power equals speed, and so it makes sense to buy the most powerful boat in the fleet. I believe that it will really suit my sailing style and that the true potential for this boat has yet to be achieved. I think I can push the boat to the limits that it was designed for. I am very excited to start sailing on her, and see what she and I are capable of over the next three years. The Barcelona World Race will be our first major race together and I will be hoping to go one better than last time!” The latest rules changes within the IMOCA class means that a boat of this power will not be able to be built again in the future. As for the IMOCA 60 Hugo Boss (built in 2007), she is now available for purchase. Alex will compete onboard her one final time in the Transat Jacques Vabre this November. The change is not going to be easy for Alex: "Hugo Boss has the potential to win races, and I truly believe it could have won the last Vendée Globe, and will be a serious contender for the next Vendee Globe! Hugo Boss is ready to start the Vendee Globe today and it will be very sad to move on." 2009-09-18 17:16:11 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/9878/alex-thomson-at-the-helm-of-pindar.html Newswire : BT in for a minor refit in Port-la-Forêt http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/newswire/9875/bt-in-for-a-minor-refit-in-port-la-foret.html The shore team of the BT IMOCA 60 are working hard on the preparation of the boat for the major race of the season - the Transat Jacques Vabre starting from Le Havre on the 8th of November. Pierre Emmanuel Hérissé, boat captain of BT commented: "BT has now been in the shed in Port La Foret (in Brittany) for 10 days. We are doing a complete check, but no major changes are being made. The final preparation of the keel, hull and rudders has been done. We checked, cleaned and replaced when necessary the deck hardware. 80% of the running rigging is being changed and we are replacing all the standing rigging. BT should be back in the water on the 7th of September and we will do the 10 degree test to ensure she conforms to IMOCA rules and can obtain her 2009/10 certificate." 2009-08-29 15:59:41 http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/newswire/9875/bt-in-for-a-minor-refit-in-port-la-foret.html