Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts X4.0

Ten days and counting to Vendée Globe start

by Vendée Globe media on 31 Oct 2008
Dockside - Ten days to the start of the Vendee Globe Vincent Curutchet / DPPI / Vendée Globe

Only ten days left before the start of the Vendée Globe. The skippers are turning up one by one in the harbour in Vendée, while the shore teams are busy from first light, before the crowds, who certainly do not seem to have been put off by the rain, invade the pontoons. For these assistants, the major jobs have all been done and now it is time for a few final touches.

This morning (Thursday) on Groupe Bel, it was the rigger, who was hard at it: 'I'm putting a sheath on the halyards, where they leave the mast. They are starting to become a little fluffy, and we want to be doubly sure, as they have to last for three months.'

As for Delta Dore, which saw the return today of Jérémie Beyou, the atmosphere was fairly quiet: apart from the food, everything has now been stowed. There will be one final sea trip next week to see how the green and white monohull behaves now that she is loaded.

It is similarly calm on the deck of Paprec-Virbac 2 where they are now sticking on labels, while Jean Pierre Dick is bent over the computer screens. 'A little nit-picking, a little bit of fiddling, as there are always possible improvements, but in fact, the boat has been fully ready since late July,' said Julien Penven. The men on Maisonneuve came up with a similar argument: 'A boat is like a house. It's never really finished. Basically, Maisonneuve could more or less set sail tomorrow. But we'll keep finding jobs to keep us busy and we'll be checking things over and over again.' On Roxy, the instruction manuals and procedures are being written down for Sam Davies and one final climb to inspect the mast is planned. In the cockpit of Cheminées Poujoulat, while Bernard Stamm, who has returned, is busy at a meeting, they are taking apart the winches.

These final days spent preparing the boats are also an opportunity to take care of a few little surprises on board, by stowing away or hiding presents that the skippers will dig out at Christmas. Thus, Erwan Steff has already taken care of the Christmas meals and presents for his skipper, Yann Eliès.

The toil continues and gradually the pace is building. Most of the skippers will be back in Les Sables d’Olonne this weekend and will be preparing to go through the whirlwind of activity during the final countdown to the start.

Down on the pontons…

Jean Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2), inside his Farr designed boat: 'I'm in the middle of re-reading the race instructions, going through all the problems that may arise over the course. I have just come back from a few days in Corsica and inland from Nice. I'm feeling calm, yet being kept busy all the time, and I'm very pleased to be back with my team.'

Karen Leibovici, who took part in the last Vendée Globe: 'No, I'm not feeling nostalgic about the race. I don't have any regrets when I see all the boats lined up here. I no longer think about what it was like four years ago. I've got other things to take care of. I've been working with Yannick Bestaven (Aquarelle.com) since last May. I started out as an assistant preparing the boat. Now, I'm looking after the logistics. I'm just getting ready to deal with getting the supplies on board the boat.'

Joff Brown, Dee Caffari's project leader (Aviva): 'We are pretty much there at the moment. I think we maybe have five things left to do on the jobs list and that will be it, all wrapped up tomorrow. Because next week it is all sponsors and media, so it is busy on the boat. Dee will be back and so it will be trying to help build confidence in her. Really we set ourselves the target of having the boat race ready before we got here and there are usually just a few little jobs that slip through.'

Arnaud Boissières (Akéna Vérandas): 'Since Sunday, we've noticed a distinct change in the weather. Time to get something warm on our heads and meanwhile the stress is gradually building. The boat is ready, and now we have to take advantage of these final ten days, particularly with the sponsors. This evening, the boat will be open to the employees of Akena and their families for two and a half hours.'

Graham ‘Gringo’ Tourrell, Jonny Malbon's boat captain (Artemis): 'These last ten days are just about making sure the boat is spick and span, because there will be sponsors coming out and Jonny will be needing to spend some quiet time on the boat, down below looking at the weather files and the start and routing, and so our job then is just basically making him as relaxed as possible, and looking after the sponsors then, and so the last week should not really involve any jobs of any significance at all.'

http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/
Sea Sure 2025X-Yachts X4.3Sydney International On-Water Boat Show 2025

Related Articles

Melges 15 Fittings Guide
A breakdown of the fittings based on a complete Allen Brothers fit-out If you are looking to upgrade or replace the hardware on your Melges 15, it helps to know exactly which fittings you need and what their role is on the boat.
Posted today at 7:30 am
Fortaleza World Sailing Championships announced
Test event in January 2026, and the real thing in January 2027 World Sailing has confirmed the dates for Fortaleza 2027 World Sailing Championships as 22-30 January 2027, with a Test Event being held one year prior.
Posted today at 6:40 am
All set in Trieste for the Melges 24 Worlds
Racing set to begin at Yacht Club Adriaco The countdown is nearly over. In just a few hours, the Yacht Club Adriaco will oversee the start of one of the most eagerly awaited international sailing events of the season.
Posted today at 4:41 am
2025 Six Metre World Championship Day 1
Wind gods fail to deliver in Oyster Bay, NY Sadly day one of the 2025 Six Metre World Championships at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club (SCYC) proved to be a non-starter as the wind failed to make an appearance.
Posted today at 12:51 am
52 Super Series Porto Cervo practice race
The loss of the last 'dress rehearsal' is something of a disappointment Although there was just enough breeze to execute a couple of meaningful practice starts, the breeze dropped away and thereafter proved insufficient to allow the planned two short official practice races to be sailed today off Porto Cervo.
Posted on 22 Sep
Materials That Make the Difference
Discover the performance fabrics behind the Henri-Lloyd AW25 collection Discover the performance fabrics behind our AW25 collection. This season, Henri-Lloyd has focused on advanced, responsibly sourced materials designed to thrive in demanding coastal conditions.
Posted on 22 Sep
Teams are go for 2025 Six Metre World Championship
29 boats registered and ready to race Registration is now complete and 29 teams from ten nations are ready to race for the 2025 Six Metre World Championships at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club on Long Island Sound.
Posted on 22 Sep
2025 Dutch Water Week overall
From experiment to future The Dutch Water Week concluded today with the pilot finals of the Sailing Grand Slam (SGS).
Posted on 22 Sep
RORC Transatlantic Race 2026 preview
3000 miles, one epic challenge The RORC Transatlantic Race in association with the International Maxi Association and Yacht Club de France will start from Marina Lanzarote on 11th January 2026.
Posted on 22 Sep
Aussies take it on in Geneva
Flying Roos back on top of SailGP season leaderboard after tough racing in Geneva The BONDS Flying Roos have reclaimed their lead in the 2025 Season standings after securing a hard-fought podium finish in “street fight” conditions at the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix in Geneva.
Posted on 22 Sep