23 minute read
VENDÉE GLOBE
Aerial start of the Vendée Globe, in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, 2016. Image: Jean-Marie Liot / DPPI / Vendée Globe
The 2020 edition of the Vendée Globe, which starts on 8 November, will see a record sized fl eet compete with 33 competitors expected to be on the start line off Les Sables d’Olonne.
The Vendée Globe, known as the Everest of the seas, is the only sailing race round the world, solo, non-stop and without assistance. Starting and fi nishing in Les Sables d’Olonne, it will see the competitors sail down the Atlantic, cross the Indian and Pacifi c oceans, then sail back up the Atlantic.
It was navigator Philippe Jeantot who, after winning the BOC Challenge twice (solo round the world with stopovers), introduced the idea of a new race around the world, but this time nonstop. So, on 26 November 1989, 13 sailors started the fi rst edition of the Vendée Globe, which lasted more than three months. Only seven completed the race back to Les Sables d’Olonne.
Since that time 167 contenders have taken part in the race, but only 89 of them have crossed the fi nish line. This shows the level of diffi culty of this global race in which solo racers are confronted by freezing cold, gigantic waves and heavy skies.
Perhaps it is because of the immense challenge that many competitors keep coming back. Not a once in a lifetime race, this year’s Vendée Globe has an almost equal balance between fi rst timers and skippers returning for another attempt at this ultimate solo ocean racing challenge.
Women skippers were absent from the 2016-2017 edition. This time they are back in force setting another race record with six female solo skippers, three of whom are British, lining up. Until now the average has been just two female racers competing with, for example, Anne Liardet and Karen Leibovici in 2004 and Sam Davies and Dee Caffari in 2008.
Ever since Dame Ellen MacArthur’s second place in 2000 - 2001, no woman has been on the Vendée Globe podium. Britain’s Sam Davies, who competes again this year, came close in 2008 - 2009, taking fourth place.
SAMANTHA DAVIES (INITIATIVES-COEUR)
Image: Initiatives-Coeur
Vendée Globe: 3rd attempt (2008/2009 – fourth, 2012/2013 – retired) Boat: INITIATIVES-COEUR (foiling). Launched in 2010 this boat has quite a history including fi rst place in the Transat New York – Les Sables d’Olonne, and third place in the Vendée Globe 2016-2017.
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INTO SAILING? My grandfather was a submarine commander, based in Portsmouth, and my other grandfather was both a boat builder – his yard was on Hayling Island – and a powerboat racer, so both my parents were into sailing and boats... it is in the family!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COMPETITIVE RACE SO FAR IN YOUR CAREER? The Vendée Globe, although I also love The Ocean Race (formerly the Volvo Ocean Race or Whitbread Round the World Race). It is the race that inspired me as a kid and I took part in the 2014-15 edition as skipper of the all-female Team SCA. the middle of the oceans, the competition (I am a competitor!), the challenge of forecasting and strategy, the views, the wildlife, the many different conditions I encounter, the technology of my boat, the challenge to make it go fast, the sensations when I do go fast....
WHY DO YOU ENJOY THE CHALLENGE OF SOLO SAILING? It is the best way to learn to do EVERY role on board. It is very challenging to handle such a powerful boat alone, but so very satisfying to manage to do so. I think I enjoy it, too, because I know I can be competitive in this kind of racing. I am happy alone on my boat, the solitude does not bother me.
WHAT WILL BE HARDER – GETTING TO THE START LINE OR THE RACE ITSELF? Both are very hard. I am lucky to have some amazing sponsors backing the Initiatives-Coeur Project, but that has not always been the case. Getting to the start line is incredibly hard and only those who are really motivated make it. However, the race itself is another challenge entirely. The fact that you are not allowed to stop or have outside assistance makes it so diffi cult to fi nish. Only about 50 per cent of the fl eet get to the fi nish each time. Only 89 skippers have fi nished the race in its entire history (six women) and I am one of them.
WHAT WILL BE YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE? The biggest challenge is getting to the fi nish. I hope to take about 74 days to do this (if all goes well) and that is a long time to keep a hi-tech boat fully up and running. The boat maintenance is a huge challenge, to deal with the breakages and unexpected issues. Obviously, the weather and sea-state can be challenging, but we train a lot to predict and deal with this. I also have to look after myself as it is physically very tough sailing my boat, and I have to stay fi t and healthy all that time, often in extreme weather conditions.
I have another big challenge with InitiativesCoeur, and that is to raise money for the French charity Mecenat Chirurgie Cardiaque and help save kids’ lives (by bringing kids with heart defects, who live in poor countries where they cannot receive the right treatment, to France to have life-saving heart-surgery). We raise money thanks to my three sponsors who donate €1 for every new fan / share and comment on the project’s social media pages. So, my mission is to share my race as best as I can on the social media to encourage the public to ‘click’ and ‘comment’ as much as possible!
TELL US ABOUT INITIATIVES-COEUR. Initiatives-Coeur is a foiling IMOCA. She is 10-yearsold (and has already completed two Vendée Globes), but I am lucky to have a good budget and a great team who help keep her as competitive as possible. I have the latest-generation foils designed by Guillaume Verdier, and am lucky to be part of the pioneering group of skippers who will be the fi rst to ‘semi-fl y’ mono-hulls around the planet!
WHAT IS COMING UP AFTER THE VENDÉE GLOBE FOR YOU? I hope to be able to continue racing in the amazing IMOCA class circuit – in 2021 we have the Transat Jacques Vabre and in 2022 the Route du Rhum, which is a race I have never yet managed to fi nish.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHER WOMEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS? I love helping those who are starting out in their sailing careers and am only too happy to answer questions and give advice. It is a little bit full-on just before the Vendée Globe, but I hope to be able to spend more time mentoring when I have a bit more free-time after the Vendée. And speaking of that – The Magenta Project has an amazing mentoring structure and other tools for women and girls who are looking for advice.
WHICH SAILORS INSPIRE YOU? I have to say Tracy Edwards and her crew of Maiden inspired me as a teenager, and then I was lucky enough to be part of Tracy’s crew for the Jules Verne record attempt – I was only 22 when she signed me up. It really is thanks to the opportunity that Tracy gave me back then that I am here doing what I do now. Other sailors who inspire me are Peter Blake, Shirley Robertson and Michel Desjoyeaux.
ÃIRANAAÃERRON (CAÃĀA{NEAEyRANCE)
Image: François van Maleghem
Vendée Globe: 1st attempt Boat: CAMPAGNE DE FRANCE. Launched in 2006, this monohull had already sailed four roundthe-worlds (two Vendée Globes and two Barcelona World Races) before being struck by lightning in 2014. After that, it underwent a major renovation program.
MIRANDA, HOW DID YOU GET INTO SAILING? My father taught me to sail in dinghies (fi rst outing in an Optimist aged fi ve). I sailed dinghies on and off until I graduated from uni. In adult life, I started hanging out on pontoons at events looking for rides – the way we all used to get into sailing.
WHAT KIND OF RACING DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? I like any oceanic race, preferably downwind though.
YOU HAVE COMPETED IN MANY RACES. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE SO FAR? In terms of a result, one was the Route du Rhum 2014 – I secretly wanted to fi nish in the top 10 out of 43 Class40s, and fi nished sixth. The biggest problems are dealing with dismastings, or keeping the boat and those on board safe in extraordinary seas.
TELL US ABOUT TAKING PART IN THE VENDÉE GLOBE. The Vendée Globe itself is a nonstop race, but there are many stages along the way just to get to the starting line: launching the campaign, acquiring a boat, application to have the right to enter the race, validation of 2,000 miles solo, competing in and completing the Transat Jacques Vabre… and each stage needs to be completed before tackling the next one. The Vendée Globe is a very long race, and for some, the start gun on the 8 November will mark the fi nish line of all the stages which precede the great adventure.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT SAILING? Freedom! Long distance racing and constantly trying to get the most out of the boat, minimising mistakes, always learning. Plus moonlit nights, or dark nights full of millions of stars, phosphorescent dolphins like torpedoes, sunrise and surfi ng downwind.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT FOLLOWING IN YOUR SUCCESSFUL FOOTSTEPS? Go for it! A lot of boats are perfectly suited to woman-sized sailors. Do not be afraid to ask questions, and do not expect to make lots of money. But freedom has no price.
WHICH SAILORS INSPIRE YOU (PAST OR PRESENT)? I would say Dame Naomi James, Sir Francis Chichester, Eric Tabarly and Peter Blake. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH ALL AT SEA’S READERS AHEAD OF THE RACE? In ocean racing, you have not earned your beer at the fi nish unless you have had a good weather spanking somewhere along the line.
At nine-years-old, Miranda crossed the Atlantic on her family boat for the fi rst time, but she has been sailing professionally for the past 22 years, mainly in offshore racing, and has competed in solo, doublehanded and fully-crewed races, including the Route du Rhum, the Transat, Quebec – Saint Malo and the Volvo Ocean Race.
She has won the Transat Jacques Vabre, Quebec – Saint Malo, RORC Transatlantic and Round Britain & Ireland races.
In 2009, she was navigator with the all-female team on the Open 60 Aviva, when the team set a new outright World Record for Round Britain & Ireland, taking 16 hours off the previous record.
In preparation for the Vendée Globe, earlier this year Miranda fi nished 17th in the VendéeArctique-Les Sables d’Olonne, 1 day 16 hours 24 minutes and 39 seconds behind the winner Jérémie Beyou on Charal.
After the race Miranda said: “I am very happy to be here at the race fi nish. To be ranked, you have to fi nish, so I have fulfi lled the remit.
“The second goal was to get in some training and that job is done too. I could not see myself setting sail on the Vendée Globe without doing a race like this beforehand.”
DID YOU KNOW? Campagne de France’s previous names are: Temenos II (2006), Mirabaud (2012), Great America IV(2016)
WITHOUT ASSISTANCE The course the sailors will face is 21,638 miles, the circumference of the Earth, but in reality, during the previous eight editions, most competitors sometimes sailed more than 28,000 miles – without assistance.
The without assistance element of the Vendée Globe is a key part of the race. The only assistance allowed is if a sailor returns to Les Sables d’Olonne, just after the start, meaning they would lose a lot of time. Apart from this exception, everyone has to rely on what they can do during the race.
PIP HARE (ÃEAA¸¸IA) Image: Richard Langdon
Vendée Globe: 1st attempt
Boat: MEDALLIA. Launched in 1999 this boat has already gone around the world four times.
Bernard Stamm brought it twice to victory, on the Around Alone and then on the Barcelona World
Race with a Spanish crew.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST GET
INTO SAILING?
I have sailed since I was a baby – well not really sailing I was messing around in boats, jumping in the water, rowing dinghies and so on. I fell in love with sailing in my teens on a holiday with other young people.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST
COMPETITIVE RACE?
Probably a dinghy racing on a camp when I was with the guides.
WHAT IS YOUR BEST
SAILING MEMORY?
I have so many, but when I close my eyes I can imagine and feel every one of my boats. They were all special, and
I did incredible things with them all.
WHY DO YOU ENJOY THE
CHALLENGE OF SOLO SAILING?
Because it is possibly one of the toughest things a human being could do. It is not just about managing the boat on your own, it is about being a sailor, a navigator, a tactician, meteorologist, electrician, engineer, sailmaker, rigger, medic – the list goes on. And all the time you are balancing sleep deprivation, performance and risk management. Plus men and women compete on equal terms, and
I love that.
HOW HARD HAS IT BEEN TO
GET TO THE START LINE OF
THE VENDÉE GLOBE?
It is incredibly hard to get to the start of the Vendée. I have been dreaming about it for 20 years and working towards it seriously for the last 10 years. There are so many elements to the challenge – it is not just about your sailing ability and fi tness as an athlete, it is also about raising money, getting a credible campaign together and managing everything that comes with that. And it is about
The sailors have to fi nd their own route, carry out any repairs and take care of themselves when injured or ill. In this case, though, they can seek advice from the Race Doctor. Similarly, the sailors may consult the designers or their technical team to get information about how best to carry out a repair, but it is up to them to complete any work.
RACING BOATS All the boats measure 60ft. With a large sail area, they are the most powerful
monohulls led by a solo skipper, able ▶ fi nding a path to do all those things in a traditionally male, and sometimes elite, sport. But part of my reasons for competing is to show that you do not have to come from a certain background or be a certain type of person to do this; you need to be passionate about your sport and work hard.
WHAT WILL BE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN THE VENDÉE GLOBE? There are so many and for different reasons. Just getting to the start will be an achievement. But of course there is the fi rst 24 hours when you are calming your nerves and settling down. Then there is the Southern Ocean. I have done lots of solo sailing and covered thousands of miles, but I have never been further than 53 degrees south, so that is unknown territory for me and something I am looking forward to, but also nervous about at the same time.
TELL US ABOUT THE BOAT YOU WILL BE RACING. I have just renamed my boat Medallia after my new title sponsor. She is a 60ft IMOCA class yacht and, although she is one of the oldest boats in the fl eet, she has got some pedigree. Designed by Pierre Rolland and launched in 2000, she set the transatlantic monohull record in 2001 (8d 20h 554m) and has already been around the world four times. I have made some changes and upgrades and cannot wait to cross the start line.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO OTHER WOMEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS? Do not wait to be shown a way or told how to get to your goal – if there is no clear path then make one yourself. Do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do something if you know (or even think) you can.
WHAT IS COMING UP AFTER THE VENDÉE GLOBE FOR YOU? The next Vendée Globe! This year’s race is just the start for me. I want to prove that I am a serious competitor and come back with more experience and a bigger campaign for the 2024 race.
WHICH SAILORS INSPIRE YOU (PAST OR PRESENT)? When I was growing up Peter Blake was very much my hero. I watched him through the Whitbread and on to the America’s Cup; we lost a great sailor before his time. In modern days I have always admired the career of Sam Davies. She has carved a strong path for women in the world of solo sailing - professional and successful - and it is going to be an honour to compete against her.
to go beyond 30 knots in downwind conditions. The gauge of these craft is defi ned by the IMOCA class, and a major recasting of the gauge was carried out before the 2016 edition.
A standardised keel, a choice between two masts - conventional or wing-mast – and a limited number of appendices and ballasts are now imposed for new boats. The rest is up to the architects.
But the biggest factor was the addition of foils. It is highly likely the next winner of the non-stop solo round the world race will be aboard a foiler. 19 of the 33 monohulls are fi tted with these impressive fl ying appendages, including seven of the very latest 2020 generation boats.
It is, therefore, very likely that the reference time established by Armel Le Cléac’h in 2016 (74d 03h 35 ‘46’ ‘) will be signifi cantly beaten, since the new 60-footers are capable of maintaining averages of around 30 knots for several hours.
The variable now is the stamina and durability, not of the boats, but of the skippers who must live with the noisy whistling of the appendages, the shock of the waves and above all the extremely violent movements of the boat between ‘take-off’ and ‘landing’.
So, in theory, it is the latest generation foilers that have the most potential, followed by the monohulls optimised with 2020 foils, then the 2016 boats and the lightest dagger boards. However, this round-the-world race is always full of uncertainties and unknowns. It does not seem possible to ‘fl y’ all the time without working continuously on the foil settings.
Certain weather and wind phases will also see key advantages come into play and big differentials open up.
Next Vendée Globe: November 2024
ALEX THOMSON (U{O9OSS)
Image: Vincent Curutchet / DPPI / Vendée Globe
Vendée Globe: 5th attempt (2004/05 – retired, 2008/2009 – retired, 2012/2013 – third, 2016/2017 – second) Boat: HUGO BOSS (foiling). Launched in 2019, this is a revolutionary boat whose aesthetic lines contrast with anything seen before: a fully closed cockpit, a short deck plan, oversized curved foils and many other innovations. Starting the Vendée Globe for the fi fth time, Alex Thomson has been successively third and then second in the race. He goes into this year’s Vendée Globe as one of the favourites.
Ahead of November’s start, Alex refl ected on the last race explaining: “The Vendée Globe is more than just 70+ days at sea; it is four years of planning and preparation, not just by me but by our whole team and all of our partners. To fi nish that race in second place, fi ghting all the way to the fi nish line, despite breaking the foil, is something that I am very proud of.”
It has been a long build up to this year’s race, and being forced to withdraw from last autumn’s Transat Jacques Vabre with his new HUGO BOSS was not ideal for Alex’s Vendée Globe programme. However, Alex’s design and engineering team have done extensive work to understand the forces that caused his keel to fail in mid-Atlantic.
The incident occurred after a massive deceleration following what Alex believes was a collision with a whale, with the impact centered at the top of the keel. The keel structure has now been signifi cantly beefed up to cope with a collision of that nature and Alex has no concerns about the extra weight that has been added as a result.
“It has cost us about 60 kilos in weight in the keel structure in additional reinforcement, but we feel that is how it should be.”
The boat has also been fi tted with a ‘whale pinger’ in the keel bulb, supplied by Future Oceans, to reduce the chances of hitting another one - something Alex wants to avoid for both the sake of the whales and his boat.
Unfortunately the time back in the yard following the Transat Jacques Vabre, compounded by the lockdown, took away much of his planned solo preparation and testing miles.
Talking about his ambitions for the race Alex said: “To win. For our team, that can be the only goal. After fi nishing third and second in the past two editions of the race, a win is the only result that will satisfy us.
“I believe one of the biggest challenges in this race is self-management – managing yourself and knowing when to push forwards and when you need to allow yourself to eat or to rest. That is a challenge you must face for 70+ days at sea. We have worked closely with our partners at Nokia Bell Labs to give me a better understanding of my sleep, movement, activity and stress levels when I race. Having access to that real-time data should certainly help me to better understand and manage my own performance.
“Our team brings an enormous amount of experience to this race. We have faced many challenges and setbacks, and so I feel confi dent in our ability to always fi nd a way past those. When I take to the start line, I certainly take some confi dence in the fact that I have been there before and I understand this race.”
DID YOU KNOW? Tied with Jean Le Cam in terms of number of his fi ʤe preʤious participations, Alex Thomson is the most experienced and the most successful sailor at the start with two back-to-back podiums achieved over the last two editions.
Arrival of Alex Thomson in second place in the Vendée Globe, 20 January, 2017. Image: Olivier Blanchet / DPPI / Vendée Globe
Non-stop: The skippers are allowed to stop, but are not allowed to step ashore beyond the high tide mark. The only pit stop competitors are allowed involves returning to Les Sables d’Olonne, within 10 days of the start. Michel Desjoyeaux did this in 2008 before setting off again 40 hours after the start. He went on to win the race.
Fall back in love with...
PORT SOLENT
We might not have seen you in a while, but this Autumn is the ideal time to fall back in love with Portsmouth’s most relaxing waterside destination.
6SHFLDOLVWV LQ WKH VXSSO\ RI ‘0RRULQJ (TXLSPHQW’ DQG DVVRFLDWHG SURGXFWV
“0RRU IRU OHVV” 7R RUGHU RQ-OLQH SOHDVH YLVLW RXU ZHEVLWH IRU IXOO UDQJH RI PRRULQJ SURGXFWV
www.boatgeardirect.co.uk
With over 400 Tonnes of chain in stock, as well as a huge selection of rope, shackles, swivels, buoys and other mooring products, BGD are able to help you with most of your mooring & anchoring requirements. MF Solid Zinc 6x18.5 DIN766 £3.96 per mtr MF Solid Zinc 7x22 DIN766 £5.30 per mtr MF Solid Zinc 8x24 DIN766 £6.60 per mtr MF Solid Zinc 10x28 DIN766 £9.95 per mtr MF Solid Zinc 10x30 EN813-3£9.50 per mtr MF Solid Zinc 12x36 EN813-3£12.50 per m
SOLID ZINC grade 40, calibrated chain is manufactured in Italy and is coated with an increased layer of galvanising, giving it increased longevity. It’s smooth finish & calibration makes it perfect for use on windlasses. SOLID ZINC is tested, stamped & certified. Certificates available on request.
Titan HDG 6x18.5 DIN766 Titan HDG 7x22 DIN766 Titan HDG 8x24 DIN766 Titan HDG 10x28 DIN766 Titan HDG 10x30 EN813-3 Titan HDG 12x36 EN813-3 £2.99 per mtr £3.95 per mtr £5.75 per mtr £8.25 per mtr £7.95 per mtr £11.50 per m
TITAN GRADE 40
Teste, stamped & Certificated, Hot Dip Galvanised,
Calibrated Chain …. Suitable for use on windlasses Titan Chain is BGD’s own brand. Sourced in China and made specifically for BGD, Titan chain is a high quality, Grade 40 chain that performs well on windlasses. Titan chain can be supplied c/w a test certificate on request.
316 Stainless Chain 6x18.5mm £7.95 mtr 8x24mm £13.50 mtr 10x28mm £19.95 mtr 10x30mm £19.95 mtr 12x36mm £27.50 mtr
Used Chain available from 25mm to 50mm diameter. Ideal for use as ground tackle. Please call for details
Rope & Chain Sets (Suitable for Windlasses) Nylon Multiplait spliced to G40 Calibrated TITAN Chain
Bargain of the month!!!
Pro VA600 Aluminium Vertical Windlass Only £349.00 (6mm or 7mm S/S Gypsy) For vessels up to 30ft
3 Year Warranty! Please call for this amazing offer
Doublebraid Docklines
Polyester Black mooring lines with spliced soft eye & whipped ends ready to use. Packed in pairs in a netted bag. NB… * = Single Line Only ! 16mm Diam x 8mtr £29.78 16mm Diam x 10mts £35.71 16mm Diam x 15mts £50.47 18mm Diam x 8mts £33.41 18mm Diam x 10mts £40.13 18mm Diam x 15mts £56.93 20mm Diam x 8mts £42.65 20mm Diam x 10mts £51.50 20mm Diam x 15mts £37.80*
Heavy Duty Titan Boat Stands
Our ever popular heavy duty Titan boat stands are on the shelf again. This time we’ve increased our stock so that everyone who needs them can take advantage of our great prices. Used by boat yards and individuals alike, these heavy duty stands offer the following features:
30m x 10mm Nylon Multiplait 30m x 6x18.5mm DIN766 Chain £119.00 30m x 12mm Nylon Multiplait 30m x 7x22 DIN766 Chain £169.50 30m x 12mm Nylon Multiplait 30m x 8x24 DIN766 Chain £199.00 30m x 14mm Nylon Multiplait 30m x 8x24 DIN766 Chain £229.00 30m x 14mm Nylon Multiplait 30m x 10x28 DIN766 Chain £299.00 30m x 16mm Nylon Multiplait 30m x 10x30 EN813 Chain £329.00
250mm Threaded Bar for finer adjustment
