14.05.2010
Meeting the public
The desire shown by the organisers of the Vendée – St-Petersburg to make this race
an educational experience is very much appreciated by the general public. By
Wednesday evening (13th May), more than 30,000 visitors had visited the village
since it opened. The arrangements put in place for the day of the start lead us to
imagine more records will be broken. We take a look at what is planned for Sunday.
For visitors present at the event:
10 a.m. The multihulls will begin to make their way out of the harbour, leaving in the
same order as they arrived at the
pontoon. After being greeted by
Philippe de Villiers, President of the
Vendée Council, the crews will
leave through the harbour channel
at five minute intervals to head for
the start area, around a mile and a
half south-south-west of the
entrance to Saint-Gilles Croix-de-
Vie. There will be a running
commentary on all of the
departures in the village and it will
be shown on a giant screen on the
promenade overlooking the index
beach at the end Rue Notre-Dame. This broadcast will continue until eleven.
11.45 a.m. The scene preceding the start will be shown live on the giant screen over
the beach. There will be a commentary of what is happening, explaining everything
and presenting those taking part.
Noon: Start of the race with the boats heading for the mark located off La Gachère,
in the Olonne sur Mer district around five miles south-east of the starting line. The fleet
of multihulls are then likely to head along the coast allowing spectators to watch the
crews at work as they round this first mark.
12.15: the first boats are due to pass the la Gachère Buoy. This will give us a first
inkling of the order as well as allowing us to see the final manoeuvres before the
boats head out to sea.
12.30: End of the live broadcast with the first comments and analyses.
On the race website, www.vendee-saintpetersbourg.org
From 10 to 11: live coverage of the boats leaving the pontoons.
From 11.45 to 12.30: coverage of the start and the first few minutes of the race until
the boats reach the La Gachère Buoy.
Sunday at 4 in the afternoon: first official rankings will be posted on the Vendée St-
Petersburg website.
Monday 17th May, noon: first radio session with the crews in the race, live from the
Vendée St-Petersburg village.
Please note these times are local times (GMT+2)
Important rules: There will be a mile-square exclusion zone marked off by cylindrical
red buoys. This area is strictly reserved for the competitors and the organisers’ boats.
Reminder
- Number of entrants: 9 crews, FY Escoffier, Y Le Blévec, E Le Roux, H Cléris, A
Caseneuve, L Roucayrol, P Laperche, E Hochédé et L Féquet.
- Crewed race with three people. The crews can be changed in St. Petersburg.
- Start on 16th May 2010 from Saint Gilles Croix-de-Vie: finish expected in St.
Petersburg around 22nd to 24th May 2010.
- Start from St. Petersburg on 31st May 2010: due to finish in Saint Gilles Croix-de-Vie
around 5th –7th June 2010.
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