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Vendee Globe News

Wednesday October 29th, 2008
ImageVENDEE GLOBE UPDATE
According to reports the repair job on Alex Thomson’s ‘Hugo Boss’ is nearing completion.Vendee Globe entrant Thomson is said to be extremely confident he’ll be ready for the start of the race on 9th November. The repair team have worked around the clock and all the replacement parts for the yacht are now fixed in place and have been laminated, finished and cleaned ready for painting on Thursday. The yachts mast plate should also be fitted on Thursday and the boat is expected to be back in the water by the weekend ready for an intensive week of sailing and fine-tuning.

Alex Thomson is no stranger to trouble in the Vendee Globe. During the last race he struck problems in the Southern Ocean and had to be rescued by fellow Brit, Mike Golding, who is amongst the favourites to win this years event. Thomson however remains positive and this year has the advantage of a well-funded campaign and a well-tested boat. He has already circumnavigated Hugo Boss double handed, making her amongst the best-prepared boats.

Other Brits in this years Vendee Globe include the first woman to circumnavigate the world, solo and the ‘wrong way, Dee Caffari. Another favourite is the mega experienced Brian Thompson with his radically designed boat, Pindar. All eyes will be on the world’s fastest female on water, Sam Davies. Critics however are sitting firmly on the fence when it comes to the relatively inexperienced Jonny Malbon who’s representing Artemis Ocean Racing in a somewhat experimental boat. Finally our hearts and minds must be with underdog Steve White (Spirit of Weymouth) who does not have the advantage of a big budget campaign, but has a well-run team and is still struggling to raise enough sponsorship.
It has to be said that this year’s Vendee Globe is especially stiff with favourite skippers including Switzerland’s Bernard Stamm, Vincent Riou, winner of the last Vendee Globe and 2001/2002 winner Michel Desjoyeaux. So the field is pretty much open. Watch this space for further news.
VENDEE GLOBE ENTRANTS
Dee Caffari (Aviva)
Sébastien Josse (BT)
Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) (EXTENSIVE DAMAGE OUT OF RACE)
Mike Golding (Ecover 3)
Derek Hatfield Algimouss-Spirit of Canada
Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty)
Marc Guillemot (Safran)
Yann Eliès (Generali)
Jean Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2)
Jérémie Beyou (Deta Dore)
Raphaël Dinelli (Fondation Ocean Vital)
Marc Thiercelin (DCNS) (OUT OF RACE)
Vincent Riou (PRB)
Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux)
Jonny Malbon (Artemis)
Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar)
Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air)
Jean Baptiste Dejeanty (Maisonneuve)
Dominique Wavre (Temenos II)
Bernard Stamm (Cheminées Poujoulat)
Steve White (Toe in the water)
Unai Basurko (Pakea Bizkaia)
Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)
Norbert Sedlacek (Nauticsport-Kapsch)
Rich Wilson (Great American III)
Samantha Davies (Roxy)
Yannick Bestaven (Aquarelle.com) (OUT OF RACE)
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)
Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) (DISMASTED OUT OF RACE)
Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement)
TO FOLLOW THE VENDEE GLOBE PROGRESS CLICK THE LINK BELOW
Vendee Globe - monitor progress
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