In the last edition of the Vendée Globe, through the European winter of 2012-13, the head to head match race around the world was between François Gabart and Armel Le Cléac’h. Four years ago the South Indian Ocean saw the top duo stretch away from their pursuers.
Continue Reading ...
After a fast passage south from Les Sables d’Olonne to cross the Equator last night, the leading skippers in the Vendée Globe can expect the high pace and intensity to continue down the South Atlantic.
Continue Reading ...
The final briefing with Race Direction and Alain Gautier took place this morning. Tomorrow the 29 skippers will set sail at 1202hrs UTC. Ahead of them the Cape of Good Hope, Leeuwin, the Horn, but before that they have a final few hours to spend with their family and to say their goodbyes. Emotions, fears, relief… The sailors tell us how they feel 24 hours before the start.
Continue Reading ...
A top class sporting line-up with no fewer than nine nations taking part, Race HQ based at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, multi-screen international TV broadcasts, innovative digital and media arrangements… The eighth Vendée Globe already looks like being an exceptional vintage and confirms its place as the world’s leading ocean race and a major sporting event.
Continue Reading ...
The vastly experienced duo, Bernard Stamm (SUI) Jean Le Cam (FRA) have won the Barcelona World Race 2014-15 and set the reference time for the two crew round the world race: 84 days, 5 hours, 50 minutes and 25 seconds to complete the 23,321.76 miles of the theoretical course.
Continue Reading ...
After yesterday’s light winds start, which tested the patience of the 16 skippers with a busy, if slightly slo-motion, send off from the waters off the iconic Hotel Vela (W-Hotel), there has been a steady building of wind strength, and a smooth acceleration of pace for the transition into offshore racing mode for the eight boats competing in the Barcelona World Race.
Continue Reading ...
The duel between Vincent Riou and Armel Le Cléac’h at the head of the Vendée Globe fleet has swung in favour of the foiling Banque Populaire VIII skipper Le Cléac’h as the NE Trade Winds strengthened this afternoon 280 miles SW of the Canary Islands, but the leading pair might well be looking in the […]
Continue Reading ...
Fourteen IMOCA 60s will set sail from New York this Sunday in the last major singlehanded race before November’s singlehanded non-stop round the world marathon, the Vendée Globe.
Continue Reading ...
Look back to the pre-start period of the last edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, the two handed Transatlantic race from Le Havre to Brazil two years ago, and there were clear favourites in most classes. But, as the sages constantly remind us, ocean racing is a mechanical sport which is entirely reliant on what the weather and sea conditions deliver. And so there may be pre-race race favourites but there is no such thing as a certainty.
Continue Reading ...
If, in the end, the Pacific gave up race leaders Cheminées Poujoulat without too much of a fight and since Wednesday morning the Atlantic, in turn, has opened its fastest toll-free lane north east to Bernard Stamm and Jean Le Cam, the Pacific seems rather more keen to hold on to second and third placed Neutrogena and GAES Centros Auditivos.
Continue Reading ...
