Newsletter / Friday 23 September 2016
Soaking up the atmosphere
More than half of the Vendée Globe fleet will be getting together in Lorient this weekend to take part in the Azimut Challenge, the final rehearsal before the start of the non-stop solo round the world race, which begins from Les Sables d’Olonne on 6th November. They will all be paying particular attention to ensure that nothing gets broken, but at the same time will certainly also feel the need to push hard to see how they measure up against their rivals.
Earlier this week, seven sailors attended the penultimate training course at the Finistère Offshore Racing Centre in Port-la-Forêt. On the programme, some night-time sailing with an exclusion zone, like the one they will face in the Vendée Globe. This year, this exclusion zone will in fact replace the Ice Gates, which were previously in place.
Some other skippers are putting the final touches to their preparation. Among them, Sébastien Destremau, who went through a whole range of feelings over the past few weeks, after losing his mast two months before the start of the race, an incident that could easily have brought his plans to a halt. However, thanks to a lot of generous support from everyone, the sailor from Toulon has managed to find another mast and has got a headline partner signed up to his campaign. He told us all about these developments earlier this week.
Today, Friday 23rd September, Bertrand de Broc is celebrating his 56th birthday. The whole of the Vendée Globe team would like to offer our best wishes to this legendary figure, who is about to embark on his fourth Vendée Globe.
The Azimut Challenge, the final battle before the Vendée Globe
Sixteen skippers registered for the next Vendée Globe are taking part this weekend in the sixth edition of the Azimut Challenge in Lorient. That is more than half of the fleet that will be competing in the next solo non-stop round the world race.…
Sébastien Destremau: “A turnaround, we couldn’t have dreamt of”
In Port-La-Forêt, the sailors are working on the exclusion zone
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