DWM - EN - Newsletter #21

Ne wsle t ter 26/07/2012

d period _The final yar ndee Globe before the Ve ical training d e m e r o h s ff _O perstitious ? u s e u iq in m o _D

The final yard period before the Vendee Globe

S

ince the spring, Dominique Wavre has sailed over 1,000 nautical miles onboard Mirabaud in preparation for the Vendee Globe, the non-stop single-handed round the world race that starts on the 10 November in the Sables d’Olonne, France.

Going into the final routine yard period before the race, both skipper and yacht are in excellent shape and all the modifications that were made to the boat have been validated: “We have had this summertime yard session in the schedule throughout,” he explains. “We have several simple goals: we need to refair the hull so that it is as smooth as it can possibly be for the race and while we are doing that, we will take the rig out so that we can do a full rig check in comfort (rather than hanging from it on a halyard) and replace anything that needs replacing.”

During yard periods, several specialists join the four full time workers on Mirabaud: a

2 www.dominiquewavre.com

rigging specialist, a mast specialist, a company that conducts infrared scans to detect any anomalies in the mast, and another that conducts load tests on the keel to make sure that it has maintained its integrity after the Transat Jacques Vabre, the delivery back to France and the last few months of training.

From the moment that Mirabaud goes back in the water on the 31 July, Dominique will undertake an intense 10-12 day training session to finalise the last few details. Michele Paret will accompany him. “Our objective will be to go and find some strong wind conditions,” explains Dominique. “Depending on the weather forecast, we will either head south towards Madera or North. After this training session, I will take a few days off to clear my head before plunging into the next phase of training in September with the usual job list to tick off before D-Day.”

Offshore medical training

D

ominique spent three days this month doing a medical course customised for the offshore sailor, provided by ISAF and obligatory for all Vendee Globe competitors.

“The course was conducted by paramedics specialised in offshore emergencies,” says Dominique. “It was an open course and there were three of us, including Arnaud Boissieres who is also competing in the next Vendee Globe and is about to do an Atlantic crossing with his children.”

It always useful to do a medical refresher course: “Partly because techniques evolve and partly because we all forget things,”

he adds. For the Vendee Globe, Dominique will carry a comprehensive medical kit that weighs about 15kgs and is required by race organisers. “We went through the kit with the instructors and identified each medication, we discussed the best storage methods and we practiced our stitches on a pig trotter. One of the paramedics simulated a medical problem and we had to identify it and issue first aid. It was an excellent experience, particularly brought alive by the paramedics who are passionate about what they do. The goal was to learn how to deal with things that we never want to have to deal with…”

www.dominiquewavre.com 3

Dominique superstitious ?

I

t is a well-known fact that sailors are superstitious. Some won’t sail on green boats; others – namely from the southern hemisphere – refuse to take certain fruit onboard and some place a coin under the foot of the mast for good luck and safe passage.

Few sailors will cross the equator without making an offering to Neptune, but what about Dominique…

Is he superstitious?

“More than anything I respect maritime tradition, and so yes, I have some

superstitions,” he says.

What would you never take onboard?

“A tie. Not for superstitious reasons, but because it would be completely pointless!”

What word will you never use on a boat?

“Rabbit.”

Could you go to sea without christening your boat?

“No way! Better to do it twice than not at all!” www.dominiquewavre.com

Mirabaud & Cie Banquiers Privés Laurent Koutaïssoff 29, boulevard Georges-Favon 1204 Genève T: +41 58 816 23 90 M: +41 79 786 78 93

MaxComm Communication Bernard Schopfer T: +41 22 735 55 30 M: +41 79 332 11 76 bernard.schopfer@maxcomm.ch

Crédits photos Thierry Martinez/Mirabaud Wavre/Paret