DWM - EN - Newsletter #22

Ne wsle t ter 27/08/2012

re completes v a W e u iq in _Dom g rm up trainin a 3358 km wa sail of offshore _The pinnacle racing ool _Summer sch

Dominique Wavre completes a 3358 km warm up training sail

T

he Vendée Globe is fast approaching and Dominique Wavre has recently completed an ‘appetizer sail’ of 1812 nautical miles(3358 km) in the Bay of Biscay and the North Atlantic.

«The purpose of this voyage was to get back into the swing of ocean navigation, to work maneuvers and VPP’s (NDLA: theoretical speed at different angles and with different sail configurations). I also took the opportunity to put together a jobs list which will need to be completed before the start of the Vendée Globe”, Dominique said.

Dominique departed from La Rochelle on 8th August, alongside Michèle Paret who was there as an observer only and prohibited from assisting him with any of the maneuvers.

Michele commented: «I accompanied Dom purely as an observer and having the necessary distance from the running of the boat has allowed me to view the situation in detail and to be more creative when thinking about possible solutions to various issues. It has allowed me to propose different solutions here

2 www.dominiquewavre.com

and there, and to help make maneuvering easier, more ergonomic, less risky and also to improve life on board in general.”

Mirabaud was sailing for the first time in its future “Vendée Globe” configuration, with the ten sails allowed on board for the event.

The skipper initially headed for a low pressure north of the Azores, during which he experienced gusts of about 25 knots.

«It was just a small law, nothing terrible,» says Dominique. The solo sailor and his discreet observer then headed towards La Rochelle at high speed under asymmetric spinnaker.

«Among the various tests, I was able to trial my new bucket seat, which allows me to relax while still being close to navigational instruments,» says Dominique. «I also tested various new systems and carried out a review of all the possible maneuvers I will make during the Vendee Globe. Michèle hasn’t helped me with anything except the tasting of the freeze dried dishes that I will carry on the race.”

The pinnacle of offshore racing

D

ominique is one of nineteen competitors taking part in the next Vendée Globe, the solo, non-stop race around the world without outside assistance. Only 78 sailors have taken on this formidable race before, a very low figure when compared to the number of people who have reached the summit of Everest (14,000 attempts of which more than 4,000 have been successful), which illustrates the difficulty of the task. As summarized by the race director Denis Horeau, the Vendée Globe is the «Pinnacle of offshore racing!”

Nineteen is the average number of competitors and boats who have been on the start line of the last six editions of the Vendée Globe. The youngest competitor for this edition will be Louis Burton at 26, followed by 29 years old François Gabart. Dominique Wavre is arguably the most experienced sailor as he will be taking the start of his tenth round the world race and fourth Vendée Globe. He plays an important role in the overall event statistics: the nineteen competitors have competed in 52 round the world races and 25 Vendée Globe.

www.dominiquewavre.com 3

Summer school

D

ominique Wavre and Michèle Paret are currently on holiday in the south of France but there is no question of them lounging around on a crowded beach: their holiday is to be active and devoted to the physical preparation of the solo sailor and will include regular mountain biking.

«The goal is twofold,» says Dominique. «The time will be spent partly on my physical preparation, but also to have a few days down-

time to switch off completely and return with some fresh ideas.”

As for Dominique’s summer reading, it will be a constant reminder of the magnitude of the task that lays ahead for him in November…he plans to read the manuals of instructions of use of his numerous electronic systems. Suffice it to say, Dominique’s holiday are studious!

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