Vendee Globe 2008/09 www.vendeeglobe.org - Übersicht Press Release N°1 Paris, Wednesday 10th October 2007. The Everest of the Seas is twenty years old : The Vendée Globe 2008/2009: already one for the history books! Philippe de Villiers, race organiser, officially presented the 2008/09 Vendée Globe in Paris today, Wednesday 10th October 2007. Twenty years after its first edition, when this race was first created around an idea, which was both simple and crazy: sail single-handed non-stop around the world via the three capes without any external assistance. The countdown for the 2008/2009 edition has now begun and the event is going to be historic, because of the record number of sailors pre-registered, the quality of the 25 yachtsmen from all four corners of the sailing world, and finally because of all the innovative treasures aboard the latest generation of 60-foot Open boats. Ellen hätte 2001 beinahe Eisberg gerammt Twenty-five contenders lined up for the supreme title of ocean sailing. Never has the Vendée Globe attracted so many. Ten yachtsmen and women from abroad – never has the Vendée Globe been so international. Sixteen new boats, two completely refitted, all by the seven most innovative design teams in ocean racing. Never has the Vendée Globe brought together so much talent, using so much technology, with such great passion and skill. Two former winners – Vincent Riou (2005) and Michel Desjoyeaux (2001) – and 23 other competitors, trying to get the Holy Grail of single-handed sailing. Never has the line-up been so exciting than for this sixth Vendée Globe, which will start on Sunday 9th November 2008 from Les Sables d’Olonne. The race of all the extremes, all the records, all the passions. Philippe de Villiers, President of the Vendée Council: « For weeks on end, these exceptional « skippers » will allow those of us, who have stayed ashore, to share in their excitement, their fears, their joys, and their daily amazement. Thanks to them, it is rather as if we ourselves had set sail to face the oceans, watching the clouds drift by in the sea spray. Those, who “do it because it’s there” have always been vital to the man in the street, as they bring some light to his ordinary grey existence. It is not by chance that this single-handed race, where the adventurers are conquering not the peaks but the oceans, is referred to as the «Everest of the Seas». Record number of participants and internationalisation ! In 1989, there were thirteen entering into the unknown. There will be twice as many in November 2008. No fewer than 25 single-handed yachtsmen, including three women (1), will be trying to see whether the Earth is still round. Looking beyond the sheer number, it is the quality of the line-up that so impresses. We shall be seeing the famous pair from the last race, Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam. It will be great to see Michel Desjoyeaux making a comeback, trying to renew his feat from 2001, but we must not forget Roland Jourdain, Mike Golding, Dominique Wavre, Alex Thomson, Sébastien Josse... Then, there are the talents coming from other areas of sailing like the Figaro, such as Yann Eliès, Jérémie Beyou, Kito de Pavant and Armel Le Cléac’h. And what about the determination of sailors like Marc Guillemot, Loïck Peyron, Dee Caffari, the first woman to sail single-handed around the world against the prevailing currents, and the Swiss yachtsman, Bernard Stamm, twice winner of the Boc Challenge. Six Englishman, one Canadian, one American and two Swiss sailors will be trying to put an end to French domination. «We can expect some surprises,» warned the titleholder, Vincent Riou. Hi-tech 60’ Monohulls Sixteen new boats and two completely refitted will be there at the start. A record. The seven most prestigious design studios in the world of ocean racing have worked for the top yachtsmen. Should they have gone for power or lightness? This is the great debate. A powerful boat will show its potential in moderate winds and heading into heavy seas… Others, however, and not the most insignificant, like Jean Le Cam, Roland Jourdain, Marc Guillemot and Kito de Pavant are continuing along the path towards lightness. All sorts of innovations will be brought into play, in particular concerning the ease of handling, the choice of mast, the type of canting keel system, etc. We shall have to keep an eye on the astonishing trim tab on Jean-Pierre Dick’s boat. However, while competition is rife between the design studios, only confrontation with the oceans around the planet will vindicate the choices that have been made by the sailors. Some solid, committeed partners Sodeb’O is renewing its commitment as Headline Partner to the Vendée Globe One of France’s most dynamic food groups and one of the most present in ocean racing, will once again be the headline private partner for the Vendée Globe in 2008. Proof of the experience and success of this local company with 2000 employees, which is thus allowing the legendary race to continue to thrive. The Vendée Council, whose support has been vital in ensuring the creation and the lasting success of the Vendée Globe event, is already at the forefront of the organisation of this global event and is strengthening its image as France’s leading ocean racing department. Behind the Council, the whole of Vendée and its people support the Vendée Globe and its skippers. The town of Les Sables d’Olonne, which will be the host for the start and finish of the race, is also working hard. Port Olona has undergone some more improvement work with 250 new mooring places, bringing the total capacity to 1500 places. The teams have gained a lot of experience of major races by hosting the Mini 6.50, Class 40 and one design boat events, such as the arrival of the last Figaro single-handed event. (1) 27 sailors in all, with the closing date for registrations set for 1st July 2008. What they said : Vincent Riou, winner of the 2004-2005 Vendée Globe : « I really enjoyed myself last time in the Vendée Globe, so I really had to come back. The line-up we can see is attractive to say the least. When you love a fight, you tell yourself that if you are not at the start of the race, you would be missing a great moment in your racing career. We have never seen such a line-up before for the start of a single-handed round the world race: yachtsmen from all sorts of backgrounds, machines that have been fine-tuned like never before… There are going to be some surprises. Some won’t manage to get into the rhythm, while others will reveal their talent… » List of the 25 skippers that have pre-registered Yannick BESTAVEN (Fra) Jérémie BEYOU (Fra) Arnaud BOISSIÈRES (Fra) Dee CAFFARI (GB) Samantha DAVIES (GB) Kito De PAVANT (Fra) Michel DESJOYEAUX (Fra) Jean-Pierre DICK (Fra) Yann ELIES (Fra) Mike GOLDING (GB) Marc GUILLEMOT (Fra) Derek HATFIELD (Can) Sébastien JOSSE (Fra) Roland JOURDAIN (Fra) Jean LE CAM (Fra) Armel LE CLEAC’H (Fra) Anne LIARDET (Fra) Jonny MALBON (GB) Loïck PEYRON (Fra) Vincent RIOU (Fra) Bernard STAMM (Switz) Alex THOMSON (GB) Dominique WAVRE (Switz) Steve WHITE (GB) Rich WILSON (USA) Copyright © 1996-2008 - SEGEL.DE