Vendee Globe - Akena Vérandas nears completion

by Vendee Globe on 9 Apr 2012 Vendee Globe entrant Arnaud Boissières’ monohull, Akena Vérandas, received her keel on Friday morning in Les Sables d’Olonne. The boat, formerly known as PRB, on which Vincent Riou finished third in the last Vendée Globe, is now near completion as her mast will be mounted on April 11, also in Les Sables d’Olonne, the host city of the 2012-2013 Vendée Globe start.

That operation requires the transportation of the mast by road from the CDK shipyard in Port-la-Forêt (Brittany) to Vendée which, although complex, is entirely justified as far as ‘Cali’ - Arnaud Boissières’ nickname, is concerned. He explains: ‘It’s more comfortable and it makes more sense for us all to mount the boat’s mast at home.’

Just like his boat, ‘Cali’ has had a very busy schedule these days. He was in Brittany on Thursday at the Café de la Marine – a major event for sailing enthusiasts – where he was the main guest. He then had to rush to Les Sables d’Olonne to supervise Akena Vérandas’s keel mounting. The next morning, before hitting the road again, he had to go to Nantes and attend the taping of the television show, ‘La Voix est libre’ which is about the Vendée Globe. This is such a tight schedule that the coming sailing sessions may well feel like relaxing times for Boissières!

Vendee Globe website