8th Vendée Globe underway
by Andi Robertson 6 Nov 2016 14:22 GMT
6 November 2016
Track the fleet here!
With more than 300,000 spectators lined up along the harbour entrance channel in Les Sables d'Olonne and more than a thousand boats out on the water around the start area, the 29 competitors in the 2016-2017 Vendée Globe set sail at 1202hrs UTC in exceptional weather conditions: sunshine, a 14-knot NNE'ly with slight to choppy seas. HRH Prince Albert II of Monaco signalled the start after greeting all the sailors as they cast off.
From the gun, Kito de Pavant (Bastide Otio), Paul Meilhat (SMA), Tanguy de Lamotte (Initiatives Cœur) and Vincent Riou (PRB) were out in front with the rest grouped together behind them. Bertrand de Broc (MACSF) and Enda O'Coineen (Kilcullen Voyager – Team Ireland) were called back after crossing the line a few seconds early. They had to go back and cross the line again.
The 8th Vendée Globe is underway. The race around the world has begun.
Didac Costa back in Les Sables d’Olonne
At 1254hrs UTC Didac Costa decided to turn back. The Spanish skipper identified an ingress of water and an electrical problem aboard his IMOCA One Planet One ocean.
He is currently being escorted by a French lifeboat service boat. His team will be able to go aboard once he has passed north of the Nouch Buoy at around 1435hrs UTC. A closer analysis will then be possible. He is expected to enter the harbour after 1600hrs UTC.
More information to follow.
www.vendeeglobe.org/en
British sailor Alex Thomson sets sail in quest for Vendée Globe glory (from Alex Thomson Racing)
Alex Thomson today began his bid to become the first British sailor ever to win one of the most gruelling sporting challenges on the planet, the Vendée Globe.
The Vendée Globe is a single-handed, non-stop, unassisted race around the world. Often termed 'the Everest of Sailing', the race – which comes around just every three years - pushes sailors to their very limits, requiring them to compete alone at sea for around three months, without stopping or setting foot on dry land.
Thomson departed from the race start line in Les Sables d'Olonne, France, today alongside 28 other sailors. For Thomson, this was the final opportunity to bid his wife, Kate, son, Oscar (5) and daughter, Georgia (2) farewell.
After successfully completing the 2012-2013 Vendee Globe and crossing the finishing line in third place, Thomson – who is sponsored by HUGO BOSS and Mercedes-Benz - will this year seek to make history and become the first British sailor ever to win the iconic race.
He will do so on-board his new £4.5m IMOCA 60 race boat, HUGO BOSS - a yacht which, after more than two years in the making, was unveiled at the end of 2015. Thomson and his team have spent the past four years training, preparing and developing cutting edge technologies which they believe will place them in the very best position to win the race this time around.
"After four years, the day has finally arrived." said Thomson. "The team has worked incredibly hard to get HUGO BOSS ready and I am confident that we now have a boat which is genuinely capable of winning the race. Of course, today is bitter sweet for me. I get to enjoy the atmosphere as thousands of people gather to wave myself and the other sailors off, but I also have to say goodbye to my wife and children, which never gets easier as time goes on.
"The next time they see me, I hope to be crossing the finish line on board HUGO BOSS in first place. That would be an incredibly special moment not only for myself and my team, but for British sport as a whole."
So extreme is the 26,000 nautical mile Vendée Globe, that just 71 of the 138 sailors who have ever attempted to complete the race have successfully made the finish line. Three, meanwhile, have lost their lives along the way.
CEO of Alex Thomson Racing, Stewart Hosford, said: "The team has been working around the clock to ensure that, when this moment came, we would be in the best possible position. And I feel confident that that's exactly where we are. We have a boat which is incredibly fast, a fantastic team, and a skipper who is committed to completing the challenge and making history. We wish Alex the very best of luck and we'll be with him every step of the way."
Sébastien Josse: "It's down to us to write the scenario now" (from Gitana Team)
The Vendée Globe, forever and for always magical! After leaving Les Sables d'Olonne, Sébastien Josse headed over to the start line where the race kicks off at 12:02 GMT. The sailor is preparing to set sail on his third solo round the world race. A 'slice of life' for which he has prepared intensely with the Gitana Team, Ariane and Benjamin de Rothschild's offshore racing fleet. This morning, the first frosts whitened the pontoon as if to remind the skippers that tonight will be chilly at the Bay of Biscay. Before that though, there was plenty to warm their hearts. The looks, shared words and the hugs... pulling yourself away is not easy, but now it is time for the race and adventure.
Sébastien Josse, Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild skipper, shortly before leaving the dock:
"I slept pretty well and I woke up just before the alarm. It's possible that we might be able to get a few minutes' sleep tonight, but I think we'll only really be able to get some shut-eye once we're level with Cape Saint Vincent (southern tip of Portugal).
The race will be pretty quick at the start, with a few manœuvres, which will call for some good sail choices. It's important to be in the leading group because the light airs will quickly chase us down.
Setting off on these adventures captives us. We have ambitions and desires to be at the start of the Vendée Globe; it's a slice of life. It's not something you do ten times: two, three, maybe a maximum of four times in your career.
Right now, it's down to us to write the script. I know that I'm heading off around the world, but the notion of three months is hard to take in immediately. The first parts of the race will be sailed in the sunshine, like in the transatlantic race, but our entry into the Roaring Forties will I think be a real booster shot.
In 2004 and 2008 (Sébastien's first two Vendée Globes), I wasn't yet a dad. In this instance, I'm leaving my family behind me, with a little one at home so that gets to you. He's still young and doesn't really realise what's happening. Dad's going to work? Yes, dad's going to work."
Baron Benjamin de Rothschild and his wife are in Les Sables d'Olonne, with Sébastien and the team:
"These are very important times, primarily because our skipper is leaving us for a long time. He's going to be alone for two and a half months, which is something few people will get to do. Sébastien is very courageous for setting sail. Everyone knows how demanding this race is and managing to complete it is the primary aim and after that, we're allowed to dream!" Baroness Ariane de Rothschild takes this sentiment further. "I feel a deep sense of pride today. That of the quality of the incredible teamwork, which to my mind, is a genuine model for the business world in general. Naturally it's also an extremely powerful moment for our skipper who now holds the cards and has the race ahead of him. Sébastien, we're with you and will be for every day of this round the world, which we'll be thrilled to share."
Cyril Dardashti, CEO of Gitana Team:
"No matter how long we've been doing this job, it's always a striking moment and it really gives your work concrete expression. You're aware of what Sébastien will experience and you even feel a bit bad for him, but you know that he's heading out there with real passion."
Round-up of the weather forecast with Antoine Koch, a member of Gitana Team:
"As forecast, there will be little breeze as the race kicks-off, with a dozen or so knots for about thirty miles. From there, the NNW'ly wind will pick up to 20 and then 25 knots. It will be pretty shifty and we'll have to get a proper handle on that later today and throughout the night. They'll make Cape Finisterre at daybreak and there's sure to be a short stretch of slightly calmer conditions before the breeze kicks back in. Overall, the start of the race will be really very quick. The front runners will be clear of Portugal from Tuesday."