vendee globe

BREAKING THE TOP OF THE MAST

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Tanguy de lamotte broke the top of his mast off one week into the vendee globe around the world race. We had the top of the mast break off in the 2012 Bermuda race. Fortunately we were able to finish with a reef.

Thomas Coville is, after 8 days of sailing almost a day ahead of the singlehanded around the world record.

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STILL CAN’T BEAT THE FRENCH AT FUN

ALL THE RIGHT REASONS

Tonight I listened to Rich Wilson speak about his adventure of sailing the Vendee Globe race. The occasion was the 30th anniversary of Lift Raft and Survival Equipment, begun by Jim O’Oconnor.

Rich knew he would not and could not win the race but embraced the adventure. Quite apart from the gripping story of the race itself was how surprised, mystified he was by the French people. He learned something about himself because he was open to see what was around him.

His adventure was for all the right reasons.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 78 DAYS

Replay arrivée François Gabart (2) by VendeeGlobeTV
The boat did not break, It was a good fast design, the weather routing was clearly brilliant.

Two of the world’s best sailors are sailing on equally fast designs utilizing similar meteorological data and routing software. Neither one has made a slip up and both boats have proven to be well built and thoroughly prepared. We are all witnesses to history here as the bar is being collectively raised. 80 days is under attack and the Vendée is no longer a marathon race. It is now a sprint around the world, non-stop, throwing down 500 mile days at will. Less than 20 years ago, a fully-crewed 86-foot maxi-catamaran (Commodore Explorer, skippered by Bruno Peyron) became the first to eclipse the mythical 80-day mark. And now a pair of singlehanded monohulls may go as fast or faster than Bruno and Co. Simply fascinating

VENDEE GLOBE 2012

Betrand De Broc a hole in his boat and Marc Guillermot has lost his keel.