Vendee Globe 2024, Brits

[John_Silver]

Thirteen skippers still at sea, eleven in the race. Ashore, the IMOCA Spring Sale has already begun:

 

[John_Silver]

Guirec Soudee has just gybed, off l'Ouessant, for the final approach to Les Sables. 250nm to go at the 10.00 sched.



Guirec is celebrated for a pole to pole sailing odyssey. In the company of Monique "The Hen Who Sailed Around The World." A skipper true to the adventuring roots, of the Vendee Globe.

 

[John_Silver]

Big Breton welcome, to the Vendée, planned for Guirec. Expected over the line around LW on Saturday morning. Canal entry planned for 09.40 UTC. Vive la Breizh!

 

[John_Silver]

Guirec over the line. Next up (probably), Violette Dorange. With 400nm to go.



Aged 14 Violette singlehanded her Opi across La Manche. At 23 she is the youngest ever Vendee Globe skipper, aboard the oldest boat (2006 Farr). To egg her on, an early morning fly-by, from race winner Charlie Dalin:

 

[John_Silver]

Tip & Shaft asks Antoine Mermod (IMOCA Class president) the question, ‘ Vendée Globe, race or adventure?’ Explores his reaction to Jean Le Cam’s two class proposal (daggerboard & foiler). Before delving into, the Class response to, the multiple hook / halyard lock & furler failures, experienced across the fleet.

 

[John_Silver]

Huge turnout, to welcome Violette. The crowds look even bigger than for Charlie or Yoann!. With (French) national coverage, on TV, social media and in print. Here from Le Monde:



........and socials..........



.......and YouTube livestream.......



Violette is going to be a sponsorship-magnet, in the likely event that she fancies coming back, for 2028, with a fully funded foiler…..

 

[John_Silver]

Cali hoping to be in, Wednesday or Thursday, under his jury rig. First, in the "Vendee Caraibes." Pleased to have overtaken another boat, yesterday. Making a full 5 knots!

 

[John_Silver]

Ellen MacArthur's 2000 Vendee Globe (and glimpses of that of Mich Des, Mike Golding & Yves Parlier). The 400nm daily run record falls, iceberg dodging in the deep south, dismastings for Mike & Yves (who finish nonetheless). How all aspects of sailing tech have come on, in 25 years! Enough onboard footage to tell the story though......

 

[John_Silver]

Update from Pip

 

[John_Silver]

Cali headed for Martinique. His shore team have secured a space, for his IMOCA La Mie Caline, on the ship booked to transport the Transquadra fleet back to France. (If I have understood FB correctly).

 

[John_Silver]

Sam D and Violette are teaming up for 2025. With Violette announced as co-skipper for Initiatives Coeur. Fits with Sam's post-race statement, that she wanted to be a part of the 2028 Vendee Globe, 'but not on the boat.' (post #567 for links). In that interview, Sam D also confirmed that she was looking forward to the TJV (now Transat Cafe L'Or) - a double-handed race....... Is this a transfer, of the Initiatives Coeur baton, in the making? (current sponsorship contract in place until the end of this season - going from the interview)

 

[John_Silver]

Cali, off the southern tip of Martinique. Looking forward to making landfall in Le Marin. Thanking well wishers. Planning to ‘get back on the horse,’ as soon as possible….

 

[John_Silver]

Shore team board La Mie Caline. Blue seas and sunshine welcome Arnaud Boissieres to Martinque. Shorts & T-shirts, for the family reunion, in Le Marin.



Every cloud has a silver lining!

 

[John_Silver]

The story behind Sam D and Violette Dorange teaming up for 2025, and what the future may hold, in this week’s Tip & Shaft. Apparently MACSF were in the mix, for Violette, too….

 

[John_Silver]

Pip is back in Melbourne, with sufficient funds raised to, at least, lift the boat and drop the keel. With some help from Strait Link, Benji’s borrowed bean bags & some local volunteers. It sounds as if more fund raising is required, before the boat can be shipped back to Poole, to begin the re-rig…..

 

[John_Silver]

Two steps forward, for Pip: Keel & foils ready to come out, funds raised for a ship home. BUT one step back: the ship home can no longer take the boat. Pip battles on, indefatigably…….

Out of interest, for those following @flaming’s Pogo thread, Pip looks to be using the Pogo lift-on-the-rig-attachment-points sling technique.

 

[John_Silver]

Pip's Medallia Kit sale , in aid of the get-the-boat-home-and-start-2028-qualification fund......

 

[ridgy]

I don't understand. I assumed that medallia were leasing the boat for her and would repatriate it to close their involvement. It seems that actually pip owns the boat? So they bought her the boat no strings attached?

There is one person here who probably knows every detail but it's probably not his story to tell. Now selling second hand clothing, you might think there would be a contingency for this?

 

[Allan]

On 3rd April we're off to the Lighthouse arts centre Poole for an evening with Pip Hare. I hope it's another way to contribute to the funds.
Allan

 

[John_Silver]

Pip’s IMOCA is on a ship and headed home!