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Tuesday, 18 November 2008 |
For weeks now, the level of excitement has been mounting at Les Sables-d’Olonne.
Joan Stewart watched the contestants in this year’s Vendée Globe race arrive with their yachts
Bulletins had been posted daily giving
up-to-the-minute news, and the frenzy
of noise and activity, as the Vendée
Globe village rose from the ground, finally
came to an end in time for the official
inauguration on October 18. At midday the
entrants were welcomed and received their
first briefing. Music and dancing helped to
generate a festive air as the crowds arrived to
walk along the pontoons and admire these
sleek 60ft yachts, or to wander through the
marquees, amazed at the details of the
daunting journey about to be undertaken by
these intrepid sailors. The day ended with a
magnificent son et lumière as the boats and
their skippers were introduced to the general
public, creating an almost tangible feeling of
anticipation and admiration.
For these yachtsmen and -women are
about to undertake what must be the greatest
challenge, to sail single-handed around the
world without stopping. Small wonder that the
Vendée Globe is nicknamed the ‘Everest of
the Seas’.
Mike Golding in ‘Ecover’
British interest in the race is high, with no
fewer than seven entrants. Two well-known
British yachtswomen will be taking part for
the first time, Dee Caffari in ‘Aviva’ and
Samantha Davies in ‘Roxy’. No doubt they
hope at least to emulate, if not surpass, Dame
Ellen MacArthur’s second place of 2000/1.
Mike Golding in ‘Ecover’ is entering for the
third time. He came seventh in 2000/1 and
third in 2004/5, and will be trying to improve
on this position. Of the other four, Jonny
Malbon in ‘Artemis’, Brian Thompson in
‘Pindar’ and Steve White in ‘Spirit of
Weymouth’ are also entering the race for the
first time. Alex Thomson in ‘Hugo Boss’,
forced to retire from the race last time, will be
hoping not only to complete the race, but to
complete it well. The only one of the British
contingent without a major sponsor is Steve
White. Despite worry over finances [he had to
mortgage his house to buy ‘Spirit of
Weymouth’] and apparently in need of new
sails and mast, he has such ambition and
determination that his chances should
certainly not be underestimated.
Last minute preparations are now under
way, as spare equipment and supplies are
being stowed away into these beautiful yachts,
some of the fastest afloat. Built of carbon
fibre, they are designed to be as light as
possible to improve speed, yet strong enough
to withstand the worst the seas, especially the
southern oceans, can throw at them. They are
packed with electronic and computer
equipment to help with navigation, check
performance and communicate. The latest
safety regulations also insist that they are
easily rightable, should they get overturned.
However, one of the greatest fears for this
journey is that of icebergs. Because of climate
change, icebergs are detaching themselves
much more quickly and float northwards, in
particular towards New Zealand and the path
the competitors are likely to take, as they pass
the three great capes which mark the
southernmost tips of Africa, Australia and
South America.
The race sets off from Les Sablesd’Olonne
on November 9. The yachts start to
leave their berths in Port Olona at 9am and the
race begins at 1.02pm precisely. They will set
off in a south-westerly direction to negotiate
the Bay of Biscay, before heading south, then
east, passing the Cape of Good Hope.
The race will take about three months to
complete. We wish them all “Bon voyage”
and safe return.
www.vendeeglobe.org
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