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THE VENDEE GLOBE 2004
www.vendeeglobe.org - zur Übersicht
06.11.2004
24 HOURS TO GO TO START OF 'EVEREST' OF SOLO RACING...
IN BRIEF
* NERVES AND SIMPLE LUXURIES OF LIFE ON LAND ARE SOON TO BE THING OF THE PAST...
* FINAL SKIPPERS BRIEFING FOR START AND ORDER OF DOCK DEPARTURE ISSUED...
* WEATHER FOR THE START IS LOOKING GOOD - 5-8 KNOTS FROM NE
* UK'S BBC GRANDSTAND COVERING THE START...* CURRENT RACE RECORD 92 DAYS...
Listen to Nick Moloney interview on Australian national radio, ABC:
http://www.http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/sportsf/
For latest information, please visit:
http://www.nickmoloney.com/skandia
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NERVES & FINAL SIMPLE LUXURIES OF LIFE ON LAND:
With the prospect of racing solo non-stop around the globe in the fifth edition of the Vendée Globe, fast becoming a reality here at the French start port in Les Sables d'Olonne, Skandia skipper, Nick Moloney, is trying to keep his composure and enjoy the simple luxuries of life on land that most of us will be taking for granted over the next 90+ days.
"For sure, the normal acts of our life on land are coming to an end - hot showers, hot food (that stays on your plate!) or brushing your teeth at the sink with running water and without having to hang on to anything - these small but simple acts will not be part of our lives in 24 hours time!" said Nick today. "I am feeling nervous, more in the morning than at night, and sometimes I have to stop to take a deep breath but this is normal, I think. I would be more worried if I wasn't feeling nervous at this stage! It is part of the process in the build up to the start, to get the adrenalin pumping..."
FINAL BRIEFING AND DOCK DEPARTURE FOR TOMORROW:
The 20 Vendée Globe skippers have congregated for the final time this morning at the race organisation briefing for the departure and start procedure. Great care is taken by the organisers to ensure that the 20-boat fleet all get away safely and without incident.
The organisers have now confirmed the departure from the dockside of the 20 boats. Starting at 0830hrs local time (0730 GMT) the boats leave the pontoons in 5 minute slots. Skandia is scheduled to be the sixth boat to depart and should leave the pontoon around 0900 hours local time (0800 GMT). Stepping on board Skandia for the final time tomorrow is going to be a surreal experience for Nick: "I cannot imagine that leaving 'terra firma' for the final time is really going to register with me as I am just so ready to go. This is all I have dreamt about for years and all I, and the team, have worked so hard for in the last 9 months - all I want to do is go, get out there and live the dream..."
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The start is scheduled for 1300hrs local time (1200 GMT) and the fleet will be required to round two race marks after crossing the start line located close in shore. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to line the shoreside to watch the boats depart along with a flotilla of spectator vessels out on the water.
WEATHER:
Weather for the start is looking good but building wind and sea conditions will provide some lively conditions off Cape Finisterre and the first big tactical choice.START DAY: Wind 5-8 knots from the North East providing good downwind conditions. Sea state should be calm as the breeze has been generally offshore for the last 5 days flattening out the sea after the storms of last week.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE START TOMORROW:
Go to http://www.nickmoloney.com/skandia for all the latest news about the start. Stories and images will be uploaded throughout the day and the 'Breaking News' pop-up window will bring bulletin-style updates as they happen.In the UK, BBC Grandstand will be transmitting a Vendée Globe start feature in their Sunday afternoon programme at approximately 1245 GMT on BBC2.
CURRENT RACE RECORD:
2000/2001 Michel Desjoyeaux PRB 93 days, 3 hours, 57 minutes, 32 seconds
In the last edition of the race, Desjoyeaux took a stunning 12 days off the previous race record of 105 days set by Christophe Augin. Augin had taken 5 days off 1992/93 110 day race record of Alain Gautier who had only managed to reduce the first course record by one day, set by Tiouan Lamazou in the 1989/90 edition of the race.
PERFORMANCE PARTNER OF THE DAY: BRITTANY FERRIES
Official Cross Channel travel partner
http://www.nickmoloney.com/brittanyferries
Email powered by Active ISP
http://www.activeISP.com
For more information visit http://www.nickmoloney.com or contact :
Helen King
hk@offshorechallenges.com
T : +44(0)870 063 0210
M : +44(0)7870 678360
* For further information contact http://www.skandiasetsail.com
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