[November 09, 2000 - 7:50:43 PM]
The twenty four strong international fleet
lined up for the start
of the 4th edition of the Vendée Globe single-handed,
non-stop, around the world yacht race, finally set off from Les
Sables d’Olonne, France, at 1611hrs today (French time)
under dramatic black skies and yet only 5 knots of breeze
after a four day postponement due to severe weather
conditions.
Guy Bernadin, a veteran circumnavigator from the first edition
of this, the toughest yachting challenge known to man,
opened the route out of the Port on "Spray of St. Briac", a
copy of the famous "Spray" which belonged to Joshua Slocum,
the first solo circumnavigator. Each skipper was sent off like a
king by the thousands of spectators lining the channel. Once
out into the bay of Les Sables d’Olonne, index sails were
hoisted against a charcoal sky, a light North Westerly breeze
fluxed, and the fleet slowly circled within the start zone as the
Committee boat fixed the line.
The start gun was fired and the skippers were finally alone,
family and shore team disembarked. The more competitive
boats engaged in skillful and yet precarious maneouvring off
the line in a dying wind and mounting swell. On the left to
windward British skipper Mike Golding (Team Group 4) pushed
out a lead, the other Brits not far behind. In the middle,
veteran Yves Parlier (Aquitaine Innovations) and young-gun
Thomas Coville (Sodebo) were side by side gathering speed.
On the shore side to leeward the formidable duo of Mich
Desjoyeaux (PRB) & Roland Jourdain (Sill) seemed to gain the
most out of their position and catch a better breeze to come
to the top marker buoy in first and second place an hour after
the start, tacking alongside each other.
The third boat to round the buoy 8 minutes later was another
Brit, Josh Hall (EBP Gartmore), who came in from the left to
cut in on Parlier & Coville. First female round was Catherine
Chabaud (Whirlpool), followed closely by Richard Tolkien (This
Time Argos Soditic). Mike Golding (Team Group 4), although
in 10th position around the buoy, sailed off on his own course
further inshore than the top half of the fleet and started
making serious ground on Desjoyeaux and Jourdain quickly.
First 50 footer was Patrick de Radigues (La Libre Belgique),
ahead of several 60 footers already. Ellen MacArthur
(Kingfisher) passed the buoy mid-fleet, followed minutes later
by fellow international skippers Javier Sanso (Old Spice) and
Simone Bianchetti (Aquarelle.com).
As each boat tried to find new breeze, the fleet spread out
along the horizon very quickly on their course towards Cap
Finisterre, the sunset silhouetting their full indexsails against
the reddening sky.
The start of the Vendée Globe 2000 can be viewed on the
official race website - http://www.vendeeglobe.com (click on
the English flag) - via streaming webcam. The Radio Chat with
the skippers will begin at 1000hrs until 1300hrs (French time)
on Friday 11th November, and will be registered online
mid-afternoon.
Rankings at the top marker buoy, at 1540hrs GMT:
Ranking / Boat Name / Skipper / Approx. Time (GMT)
1. PRB - Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) 1610
2. SILL - Roland Jourdain (FRA) 1610
3. EBP GARTMORE - Josh Hall (GBR) 1618
4. SODEBO - Thomas Coville (FRA) 1618
5. AQUITAINE INNOVATIONS - Yves Parlier (FRA) 1618
6. SUPERBIGOU-ARMORLUX - Bernard Stamm (SUI) 1621
7. WHIRLPOOL - Catherine Chabaud (FRA) 1621
8. THIS TIME-ARGOS SODITIC - Richard Tolkien (GBR) 1623
9. UBP - Dominique Wavre (SUI) 1624
10. TEAM GROUP 4 - Mike Golding (GBR) 1624
VENDEE GLOBE 2000 - FINAL 24 HOURS TO START
All 24 competitors in the Vendée Globe 2000 are at last able to count
down the hours to the start of the 4th edition of this non-stop,
single-handed, around the world yacht race, after a four day
postponement due to the severe weather conditions. The start is now
confirmed for Thursday 9th November at 1611hrs (French time).
The fleet will be lead out of the Port of Olona by the local fishing
boats from 1230hrs, a traditional passage from the channel out past the
breakwater, and all competitors will be in the bay by 1500hrs. The
starting line for the fleet is now off the index stretch of beach, and
the ten minute gun will be given at 1601hrs for a start at 1611hrs. The
fleet will race an initial 3 mile leg upwind to the top marker buoy West
of the start line, before turning directly towards Cap Finisterre
(Spain).
Richard Silvani, from Météo France, announced for tomorrow a WNW 10 – 15
knot wind and clear skies for the start of the Vendée Globe, which will
increase to between 10 - 20 knots from the North West over Thursday
night. Philippe Jeantot, the race organiser, commented "We expect there
to be around 10,000 people watching the start, despite the delay, with
400 spectator boats out on the water."
British skipper Josh Hall (Gartmore / EBP) voiced the feelings of all
the skippers impatient to set off: "This delay feels very strange for
all of us – November 5th has been our target date for so long now, its
hard to be treading water. It’s been a matter of getting over the mental
hurdle of re-focusing on Thursday as the start."
For the millions worldwide unable to watch the start in Les Sables
d’Olonne, the official race website, http://www.vendeeglobe.com, will be
streaming live webcam footage from the start. The news section will be
updated every five minutes from one hour before the start with minute by
minute action as it happens. The chart showing the start area and route
is now up, and the rankings at the top mark will go online on Thursday
after the start. The first set of positions will be online early Friday
morning, followed by the live radio chat with the skippers between 10 –
1300hrs (French time).
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