The Lowdown On The Vendee Round The World Race

So you may be asking, what's all the fuss about with this race?

This is why it's so special and the ultimate racing challenge.

The Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance.

The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years.

As the only single-handed non-stop round-the-world race , the race is a serious test of individual endurance, and is regarded by many as the ultimate in ocean racing.

The race is open to monohull yachts which comply to the Open 60 class criteria.

The race starts and finishes in Les Sables-d'Olonne, in the Vendée département of France.

The course is essentially a circumnavigation along the clipper route: from Les Sables d’Olonne, down the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope; then clockwise around Antarctica, keeping Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn to port; then back to Les Sables d’Olonne. The 2008 winner raced it in 84 days.

These are the racing rules:

You can stop at anchor but not receive any outside assistance.

You can return to the start line for repairs as along as its within ten days of the race starting.

Bar that you are on your own in the elements far out of reach of the normal emergency response.

Wild and unpredictable winds plus the perils of the Southern Ocean.

The race isn't for the faint hearted and numerous lives have been lost at sea over the previous years or lives saved like in 1996-1997 when Rapheal Dinelli's boat capsized and he was rescued by my local boy Pete Goss; then, within a few hours of each other, two other boats capsized, and their occupants were rescued by Australian teams.Remember Tony Bullimore?

Capsize and dismastings are common after this race new safety regs came into force after one to many rescues by the Australian Navy.

Sadly that year contact was lost with Canadian sailor Gerry Roufs. While his body was never found, his boat reappeared five months later off the Chilean Coast. Pete Goss was later awarded the Légion d'honneur for his rescue of Dinelli.

The following year saw the emergence of Ellen Macarther on Kingfisher in one of the closest ends to a race yet.

Last time round Vincent Riou was the hero placed third after detouring to rescue a capsized Jean Le Cam, therefore race over. He is back this year in the bright orange of PRB and flying one of the many flags for France.

So what will this year bring to the runners and riders, they are as always going out into a hooley on Saturday, there are six new boats in the race, which some are saying just won't last the course. And the sailors...3 Brits pitched up against the rest, Alex Thompson, Mike Golding a real veteren and flying the flag for the girls Sam Davies. I think it's a really open race this time.

To all though as we head of to racing village, safe passage and huge admiration for what you are about to do as it takes real courage and bottle.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:La Roche Sur Yon