Vendée Globe 2008, the marathon ocean
Friday 14 November 2008
Gotha world of sailing, the Vendee Globe is celebrating its 20 years. And its 6th edition.
On 9 November, 30 skippers (10 more than in 2004 were 13 in 1989) including 13 foreigners took the sea a solo race around the world, without stopovers and without assistance, in 60-foot monohull, which is probably the toughest of all the racing on the high seas
After four years of preparation, the best solo skippers will confront the harshness of the Great South. 24 000 miles to go, very often close to the "roaring fortieths!
Objective: to break the record of 87 days established in the last edition by Vincent Riou. The symbolic threshold of 80 days is even mentioned. Some names of skippers: Michel Desjoyeaux, Loick Peyron, Vincent Riou, Roland Jourdain, Marc Thiercelin ...
In 1989 the first edition, consisting of 13 starters and 7 classes, was won by Titouan Lamazou in 109 days. Present at that first edition he had finished in second place in 110 days, Loick Peyron, 48 years, returns 19 years later on the starting line.
A dozen competitors seem to be able to remove this sixth edition, but all refuse to give a favorite.
More info: The official website of the Vendée Globe http://www.vendeeglobe.org/fr/