Vendee Globe
30 intrepid sailors set off at Sunday lunchtime for the start of the 6th edition of the Vendee Globe. This really is the Everest of the Seas with 41 of the 60 sailors who have sailed around the world non-stop achieving the feat whilst competing in the Vendee.
It promises to be a really exciting event with thrills and spills guaranteed as 30 of the worlds finest sailors do battle for victory in the toughest race in any sport in the world.
Some 36 hours into the event and a vicious Biscay storm with massive seas and a 50-knot breeze has already taken its toll with 7 skippers returning to Les Sables d’Olonne for repairs.
Notable returnees include race favourites Bernard Stamm and Michel Desjoyeaux but also sadly Alex Thomson the UK sailor who was already handicapped by suffering a severe crash just prior to the event and having to instigate rush repairs just to make the start line. A large crack has appeared in the hull of his Open 60 Hugo Boss and it would appear the crash damage was more substantial that first thought and could mean the end of his dream after barely 24 hours serious racing.
A novel rule in the Vendee means that the start line is open for 10 days after the official start so in theory any returnee could re-start with Wednesday 19th November being the cut off date.
Stamm and Desjoyeaux have already returned to the fray but 24 hours in arrears may even in a 3-month yacht race just be too great a margin to catch up.
Given their abilities it would be foolish to write off their chances just yet but some informed observers believe the leaders in the fleet could well finish within hours of each other and that after 26,000 miles of racing and some 80 odd days at sea.
Currently three Frenchmen Jean Pierre Dick, Roland Jourdain and Loick Peyron are disputing the lead with Mike Golding some 40 miles in arrears the best placed Brit in 10th place.
It should compulsive viewing over the next few months as good as any TV drama and the ultimate reality TV show but for real. I wish fair winds and a safe return for all the fleet. Catch all the action on the official website www.vendeeglobe.org which is full of excellent content about all aspects of the race.
No Comments for this post
No comments yet.
Leave a comment