Barcelona and the media bids 'Bienvenidos' to the skippers

[Source: Barcelona World Race] The Barcelona World Race skippers lined up today for the first obligatory press conference with the sailors taking part in an official photo call before informal media interviews. With less than two weeks to go before the start on 31st December the co-skippers answered questions on their preparations for the race to almost 100 invited key media from nine different countries.

For some, such as 2007-8 race winner Jean Pierre Dick (FRA), Alex Thomson (GBR) and Pachi Rivero (ESP) – the sole Spanish skipper to be looking forward to competing in his second Barcelona World Race, and even Loïck Peyron who was here 10 years ago for the start of The Race – it was a chance to meet up with old friends and colleagues, enjoying the pre-start buzz and hubbub on their respective returns to Barcelona, while others have been familiarising themselves with the impressive Race Fleet Dock, and the massive 4500 sq metre Moll Barcelona World Race Expo for the first time.

Everyone loves their local heroes and almost inevitably the longest queues of media lined up to speak with the strong contingent of skippers who have grown up, or live permanently in Barcelona such diminutive Anna Corbella, who will set sail with Dee Caffari on GAES Centros Auditivos in the prospect of becoming the first Spanish woman to sail non stop around the world, Alex Pella and Pepe Ribes on Estrella Damm, Jaume Mumbru who sails with long time Barcelona friend Cali Sanmarti on We Are Water, and eminent cardiologist Bruno Garcia who partners French skipper Jean Le Cam on President and Gerard Marin on FMC.

The Barcelona World Race skippers

Dominique Wavre (SUI) and Michèle Paret (FRA), another duo who are making their return to the Barcelona World Race, will tomorrow celebrate their new partnership with Mirabaud with the boat’s official christening.

Immediately adjacent to the IMOCA Race Fleet Dock, is the huge Moll Barcelona World Race Expo which will be opened at 1300hrs tomorrow, Saturday 18th December, by the Mayor of Barcelona, Jordi Hereu. The mayor will meet the skippers and present them with their symbolic mooring lines, signifying the strong bond between them and the Catalan capital city, their Barcelona World Race flags. It will be the first time for the public to meet the skippers.

Quotes:

Pepe Ribes (ESP), Estrella Damm: “We look at this round the world race with a lot of humility, because there are four almost new boats, and the best skippers in the history of IMOCA class, but we also have great ambitions to do our best, and we want to be competitive.”

Dee Caffari (GBR), Gaes Centros Auditivos: “I’m feeling good, feeling like we have done what I wanted to achieve, that is have all the stuff to do with the boat, has been dealt with. We are ready to go. And for Anna, all of this is quite new to her, so when the race village opens and we have all the other requirements of being a skipper, she can just be concentrating on that and not worried about the boat. The shore team seem calm and happy, which always gives me confidence.”

Alex Thomson (GBR), Hugo Boss: “The race is a much bigger deal than before, with more competitors and a higher standard, and it’s good to be back. We’ve had more time to prepare - last time we sailed 2,500 miles before the start, this time it’s been 15,000. We’ve had the boat in the water for a much longer time, done two Transatlantics, been to the Mediterranean twice, and been all the way through our process of breaking and fixing and breaking and fixing!”

Michele Paret (FRA), Mirabuad: “Dominique and I are always talking about the race, but it’s our passion so that’s easy. We need it and we’ve always done it that way. It’s a great advantage for us I think because we know each other very well, we are both confident in the other one and we have no frustrations, because we can talk about everything, so I think it’s much easier for us. I think some of these skippers wouldn’t want to go with their wives!”

Pachi Rivero (ESP), Renault Z.E. Sailing Team: “I’m coming back because I loved the first time and I have great memories – if this one is as good as the first I’ll do a third! The best thing about the race is actually doing it, sailing through all the oceans, going round Antarctica, and being able to sail in extreme conditions.”

Co-skipper ‘Talpi’, Antonio Piris (ESP), added: “I’ll miss a good bed, and a cold beer from time to time!”

Loick Peyron (FRA), Virbac-Paprec 3: “This will be my fifth time setting off around the world, and in fact it is 10 years to the day of the anniversary of The Race, the exact same course setting off from Barcelona. This time my position is quite different because I don’t have the pressure of being skipper. I’m very comfortable in this new position, and it makes it very easy to accept things. The only master on board, after God or Allah, is Jean-Pierre! That’s how it should be, as it is his ship, his team, and his future. We are going to have a democratic way of doing things on board, but it’s a natural process, we don’t have to plan.”

Jaume Mumbrü (ESP), We Are Water: “We have a sponsor which is a foundation started by the leading ceramics and bathroom company ROCA. They are very passionate about the awareness of water, the recycling of water, and the lack of water, so we’re not only sailing, we’re going to be carrying their message and values, which is just great. It gives us more energy – it’s not only like carrying a commercial name, although we would be happy to do that, it’s something of value. The foundation provides funds for all different programmes, so we’re going to be explaining that, raising funds and promoting it.”

Bruno and Loïck Peyron join together to challenge for the 34th America's Cup

- After studying the matter for several months and following various discussions, the French sailors Loïck and Bruno Peyron are getting together in an attempt to unite the leading figures from French multihull sailing. This new challenge is being set up with the goal of bringing the America’s Cup, which will be raced on multihulls in 2013, to France for the first time in its history.

- A meeting between Russell Coutts, representing the Defender and organiser of the 34th America’s Cup, and the Peyron brothers was held in Paris on Friday, to discuss how France could take part in such an ambitious project as the America’s Cup.

- Bruno and Loïck Peyron have also announced they are in talks with Stéphane Kandler, Jochen Schümann (twice winner of the America’s Cup) and their ALL4ONE team, with the prospect of bringing the two groups together.

Are the French able to win the America’s Cup, the world’s oldest international sporting trophy? A goal, which France, ever since Baron Bich’s first challenge in 1967, has been unable to reach. It is certainly a very complex project, even though no one doubts the ability of French designers, sailors and builders, this is not by itself enough to guarantee success.

The America’s Cup, just like Formula 1 motor racing, is a global event, an economic and technological war, just as much as being a sporting challenge. Between now and the end of March, the new team that is being formed will have to prove it has got what it takes to commit itself. They will then have three years ahead of them to prove they can win.

The America’s Cup revolution of 2013

For 2013, something which no one really expected is happening. The Defender and Challenger of Record announced on 13th September that the 34th America’s Cup will be raced aboard multihulls, and more precisely on 72-foot catamarans with rigid wingsails. This announcement led to a wave of optimism from the French, meaning the conquest of the Silver Ewer is more likely to be within the grasp of the world’s leading multihull specialists in France.

A sacred union of multihull racers

After doing battle for 30 years on the world’s oceans and between them obtaining the finest list of successes in ocean racing, Loïck and Bruno Peyron coming together is an unprecedented opportunity for the French in challenging for the America’s Cup.

The two brothers have set a target of three months to try to bring together all the necessary personnel and resources, from a sporting, technological and economic perspective, to achieve this goal.

This major challenge is open to all the talents in France and abroad with the aim of bringing together the two worlds of multihull racing and the America’s Cup, to try and conquer the most famous sailing event in the world.

Brothers Loïck (left) and Bruno Peyron announce their intention to challenge for the 34th America's Cup

Bruno Peyron: “With the America’s Cup being organised for the first time with multihulls, the challenge is clear for us: Is France, the world leader in multihulls for 30 years capable of capitalising on its assets or will it allow other nations to catch up in three years, what we have acquired over 30? We have three months ahead of us to answer that question and three years to show what we can do. Looking beyond individual concerns, and any protectionism, I am convinced that we need to unite to be in with a chance of winning. This first symbolic step must build the foundations to allow skills, wherever they come from to be brought together.

This will be carried out at a pace suiting everyone, but remaining open is a key aspect of achieving this goal. Are we being idealistic? Is it impossible? We have already proven that what seems impossible is not always so."

Loïck Peyron: “We’ve always been told and quite rightly that the America’s Cup is reserved for specialists...which is good news for us! From Formula 18 to the Route du Rhum and not forgetting the Jules Verne Trophy, the French are specialists in multihulls, so let’s go for it ... together.”

Russell Coutts: “The new format of The America's Cup is a great opportunity for a country such as France which counts with some of the best multihull skills in the world. Bruno and Loick Peyron each have a fantastic record in racing multihulls successfully as well as creating and taking part in top level events. I am really gratified to see that they share a similar vision for transforming the America's Cup and the new opportunities created for teams with imagination and ambition. I have no doubt that Bruno & Loick Peyron will put together a strong team and prove to be tough competitors.”

Loïck Peyron to join Jean-Pierre Dick as partner for the Barcelona World Race

[Source: Barcelona World Race] Jean-Pierre Dick has just unveiled his co-skipper for the Barcelona World Race. This will be no less than Loïck Peyron, one of the most successful and experienced ocean yachtsmen in the world.

Loïck Peyron will be taking part in the Barcelona World Race 2010/11, forming a duo with Jean-Pierre Dick, the brilliant winner of the last edition of the competition. This is not the first time the French skippers join forces: they won the Transat Jacques Vabre together in 2005 with Virbac-Paprec 1 and they designed and built a pair of twin yachts (Paprec Virbac 2 and Gitana Eighty). Now it's time for them to launch their longest and most demanding adventure yet: the double-handed, non-stop race around the world.

Both skippers will be on the starting line on 31st December, onboard Paprec-Virbac 3, the brand-new IMOCA Open 60 that Jean-Pierre Dick recently unveiled to the public in Auckland, NZ. With this yacht the sailors will be defending the Frenchman's title from the first edition of the Barcelona World Race, shared with Damian Foxall. Both yachtsmen are part of the elite of world sailing, and they know one and other very well, and so will form one of the most powerful and difficult to beat teams in the competition.

Jean-Pierre Dick and Loïck Peyron on Virbac 3. Auckland, 26 May 2010. Photo copyright Virbac

Jean-Pierre Dick said: “It's a pleasure to welcome Loïck on board. This is exactly what I had hoped for: to sail with a well-rounded and independent skipper, someone incredibly competent with whom I can have a constant interaction. A double-handed team works well when there's mutual confidence, in that you have to perform 100% delegation when it comes to handing the reins over to the other skipper when your watch finishes. Loïck and I share a similar view of sailing. We realised that with our victory in the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2005 and with the building of twin highly competitive racing yachts in 2007 (the old Paprec-Virbac 2 and Gitana Eighty): the first won the Barcelona World Race 2007 and the latter won the Transat 2008.

What do I like about Loïck? His energy in doing things, his ideas on how to make the boat go even faster. He never stops. He's always doing something. He's extraordinary at getting a prototype ready and each time he brings an enormous value to the table. I also like his friendly and jovial personality. In a circumnavigation it is of vital importance to have somebody you get on with beside you, someone who you can talk to, share ideas with ,about the boat, the sea or life in general”.

Loïck Peyron said: “A voyage of discovery...I love it! I've never done a double-handed circumnavigation of the globe before. That's one of the reasons I didn't stop to think when Jean-Pierre proposed we go out for a sail in tandem. This time the course is somewhat longer! I know that the skipper, the team and the boat are up to the challenge. I was able to see that yet again in Auckland, just a few days ago, with the launch of Paprec-Virbac 3. It's funny that when we won the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2005, Jean-Pierre had already won it two years previously. Now we are heading out on a circumnavigation that he won two years ago... that's something!

What do I like about Jean-Pierre? Jean-Pierre opens up new horizons in the world of ocean sailing. He is the first French sailor to have contacted the Farr studio and the first to have had a boat built in New Zealand. His way of doing things caught my attention. Jean-Pierre has a very structured professional approach to things, but at the same time he can appear to be miles away. That's just an appearance, because his mind is always active and his brain never switches off. He also knows how to surround himself with good people in every field. In a race he won't give an inch, We are different in many ways, but we complement one and other well. We also get on really well, and I think that's our strong point”.

Virbac 3 rollover test. Auckland, 19 May 2010. Video copyright Virbac

Video: Highlights from Day 1 of the Nespresso Cup

Highlights from Day 1 of the Nespresso Cup. Portofino, 8 May 2010. Video copyright Nespresso Cup

Nespresso and Wally announce the Nespresso Cup

[Source: Nespresso] A premier new sailing event gathering exclusively the Wally Class and bringing together world-class skippers in the exclusive venue of Portofino.

Nestlé Nespresso S.A., the worldwide pioneer and reference for highest quality premium portioned coffee, today announced the launch of the Nespresso Cup, a new international regatta gathering for the very first time exclusively the Wally Class.

The announcement by Nespresso was made together with Luca Bassani Antivari, President and Founder of Wally, and with the presence of sailing legend Francesco de Angelis at the Yacht Club Italiano’s press conference which presented this season’s regattas.



“The Nespresso Cup celebrates the fusion of aesthetics and performance to deliver the most beautiful sailing regatta” said Richard Girardot, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Nespresso S.A. “Inspired by the same passion, Nespresso and Wally share a common philosophy of creative innovation, highest execution on quality, cutting-edge design and technology, delivering elegant but functional solutions.”

The Nespresso Cup, set against the enchanting backdrop of Portofino, Italy, promises to bring a new dimension to the beauty of sailing. Portofino’s vibrant waterfront offers an exceptional venue in terms of beauty and atmosphere, in the purest Italian tradition.

From the 7th to 9th May 2010, this beautiful harbour will be home to the participating Wally yachts. For three days, with two races scheduled per day, a total of 15 Wally yachts will battle it out on windward-leeward courses set up in front of Portofino.

The Nespresso Cup will take place form May 7 to May 9 in Portofino, Italy. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget

During this ultimate three day event, Nespresso is delighted to welcome, as ambassadors of the first edition of the Nespresso Cup, an extraordinary group of sailing legends. Among the prestigious line-up, and fresh from Valencia, French offshore racing icon Loïck Peyron will be competing on the blue waters of Portofino. Peyron commented: "I've always found Wally Yachts very seductive, and am looking forward to finally experiencing them first hand on the race course during the Nespresso Cup. The spectacular venue of Portofino will be the perfect location for such an event."

Grand Prix sailing legends Paul Cayard (USA) and Francesco de Angelis (ITA) will also be racing in Portofino. These two sailors have had a few high-profile battles at the highest level in the past and together have won the 1995 Admiral’s Cup. Both are looking forward taking part in the Nespresso Cup. “It will be great to compete in the inaugural Nespresso Cup in Portofino. The venue is unique and it will be fantastic to see the harbour filled by big yachts like the Wallys,” said Francesco de Angelis. “The racing there is never easy and all the Class Divisions will be competitive given the high level of the Teams. Racing in Portofino is always a challenge and hopefully this event will become a classic."

Big day of action at iShares Cup Kiel

Capsize & collisions in gusty conditions: Ecover's capsize between races 3 and 4, resulted in a broken mast. The mast was cut away from the overturned boat, and both boat and mast were towed back to the iShares Cup pitlane. Ecover crewman Bruno Dubois received a nasty cut to the head requiring stitches. In the final race today, Loick Peyron's Renaissance hit the new German team Wirsol Kiel resulting in major work overnight for both boats. Oman Sail Masirah are at the top of the leaderboard after 7 races...

Loïck Peyron joins Alinghi for the 33rd America's Cup

Loïck Peyron

[Source: Alinghi] Alinghi, Defender of the 33rd America's Cup, welcomes one of the world's most renowned multihull sailors to the team for this campaign: Loïck Peyron. The 50 year old Frenchman has crossed the Atlantic 43 times; 18 single-handed. He has raced around the world twice, holds three Transat titles and two Transat Jacques Vabres: “In every sailor's mind, the America's Cup is part of life. I have been following it for many years and now to be working for a team like Alinghi makes me proud," Peyron said, adding: "There is a tremendous amount of work for sure, but it's a big challenge. An interesting strength of Alinghi is that it has a lot of knowledge from a lot of areas of the sport: monohulls, offshore sailing, multihulls; especially here in Switzerland. The way the team works is based on team spirit and the method works really well; they have proved it many times. Now like everybody here, I am impatient to go and sail on the lake to see the potential of this amazing machine.”

Brad Butterworth, Alinghi team skipper and four-time America's Cup winner welcomes Peyron: “We are looking forward to working with Loïck; he brings a lot of multihull experience – from both a design and sailing point of view – to a team that already has quite a bit of depth in this area of our sport. I think he will be an asset to this project and a good addition to the team.”

Sailing career highlights
43 Atlantic crossings; 18 single-handed
2 Round the Worlds
3 Transat 'Anglaise' wins, single-handed
2 Transat Jacques Vabre wins
2 Bol d'Or wins

Video: Loïck Peyron talks about Alinghi's new catamaran (French)

Given the fact 15% of our readers are from French-speaking countries, we publish Loïck Peyron's comments on Alignhi 5, Alingh's new catamaran, in French. They, obviously, don't differ much from the previous ones in English but in his native language, Peyron is more eloquent and better describes how impressed he was. In his closing remark, Peyron think the first test sails will be "crazy" and "fascinating" for the crew.

Loïck Peyron talks about Alinghi's new catamaran. Hyères, 5 July 2009. Video copyright iShares Cup

Since Loïck Peyron makes reference to Le Black, Alinghi's 41ft catamaran, we publish a photo of her during some tests Alinghi's designers carried out in Valencia last year.

Alinghi Designers test Le Black 41". Valencia, 13 May 2008. Photo copyright Jose Delgado / Alinghi

Members of the Alinghi design team pose in front of the new giant catamaran. Villeneuve, 3 July 2009. Photo copyright KEYSTONE/Laurent Gillieron

Loïck Peyron shows the damage on Gitana 80

Loïck Peyron's entry in the 2008 Vendée Globe came to an abrupt end on Wednesday afternoon, when his boat dismasted. He was down below in his Farr designed Gitana Eighty studying meteo information when he heard a very loud bang. When he got in deck his immediate fears were realized when he found his mast in three or four pieces.

In this video Peyron shows the damage the boat has suffered.

Loïck Peyron shows the Gitana 80 damage. 11 December 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

Loick Peyron's Gitana 80 has dismasted

[Source: Vendée Globe] At around 13h00 (UTC) this afternoon, Loïck Peyron's IMOCA Open 60 racing in the Vendée Globe dismasted while sailing 180 miles south of the Crozet Islands and 650 miles from the Kerguelen Islands.

Peyron, the only skipper in the solo round the world race to have competed in the first edition of the race in 1989 , was in third place around fifteen miles from the new leader, Sébastien Josse (BT),

Early this afternoon Loïck Peyron (Gitana Eighty) informed the Race Directors that his boat had been dismasted. He was sailing at the time under Solent with one reef in the main in thirty knot winds. At the time of the incident he was inside his boat. The skipper was not injured and is in good health.

The cause of the damage is not yet known, but the French skipper confirmed he still has his boom and was thinking about where to sail under jury rig. Loïck Peyron had proven to be one of the leading contenders during the first third of the 24,275 mile solo ocean race. For sixteen days Peyron had been in the lead (in the 11h rankings), at the top of the 26 boat fleet on the way down the Atlantic before Sébastien Josse and then Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) took over this role.

It goes without saying that this dismasting is a salutary reminder of what can happen in the Southern Ocean in this grueling solo ocean race and perhaps will influence some of the other competitors, who have been pushing hard over the past few days. Peyron had experienced halyard problems on his gennaker before entering the Indian Ocean and climbed the mast yesterday to deal with this.

At 49°36 south and 52°47 east this afternoon at 15h UTC, the monohull belonging to Baron Benjamin de Rothschild is making slow headway.

In a short report, Loïck Peyron spoke about the circumstances of his dismasting: “There were thirty knots of wind and Gitana Eighty had one reef in the main and was under Solent. There were no particular reasons for the damage and everything was fine on board, when the mast suddenly came down without fwarning. I was inside when I heard a loud noise. When I went outside on the deck, I could see the mast had gone. I still have the boom and we're currently considering our plans.”

Loïck Peyron regains lead in Vendée Globe

[Source: Vendée Globe] Peyron reclaims the lead overnight, but there’s nothing to split the leading three – all within two miles. Just 20 miles divide the first seven skippers after 18 days of racing — is the Vendée Globe set to restart in the Southern Atlantic?

Neptune decided to throw in some wild cards last night, as the leaders entered a zone of virtually random conditions with squalls, calms, grey skies, lower temperatures and variable south-easterly winds averaging just 10 knots. The high pressure area is now being felt, with sudden wind shifts of more than 40 degrees in the small hours of this morning.

Loïck Peyron (Gitana 80) and Armel l’Cleac’h (Brit Air) were able to carry on a straight course for the south-south-east, moving Peyron back up to the lead in this morning’s rankings — these two can no doubt see each other, as they are just seven miles apart. Similarly Vincent Riou (PRB), Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) and Yann Eliès (Generali), are practically next to each other at this extraordinary point in the race.

Yesterday evening Sebastien Josse (BT) had wrestled the lead from Peyron. He is now showing in second place, just 1.2 miles behind Peyron, but by being on the east of the front runners Josse has managed to stay on port tack as the wind shifted more southerly. He is currently heading south-south-west with relative speed in these light conditions — a radical move which may yet pay off as BT is also the most southernmost boat.

The biggest effects of the southerly shift were felt to the west of the course, where Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2, 7th) and Mike Golding (Ecover, GBR, 9th) were forced to tack during the night, losing ground as they headed on an easterly course on starboard. They will now be experiencing similar conditions to the leading bunch, as the fleet converges yet further.

Jean le Cam (VM Matériaux), out on the east of this group, has moved up to fourth place this morning as the leading pack sail towards his line.

As the leaders slow, the chasing bunch of Marc Guillemot (Safran), Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar, GBR) and Dominque Wavre (Temenos, SUI) have kept the pace on, with Temenos currently the fastest boat on the course. Thompson for instance is 55 miles closer to the leader than he was yesterday morning. Meanwhile in 22nd place Bernard Stamm (Cheminées-Poujoulat) is doing his best to eat up the miles, covering the greatest distance in the past 24 hours.

Last night Derek Hatfield (Algimouss Spirit of Canada) became the 24th skipper to cross the Equator, with just Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty remaining in the northern hemisphere.

Loïck Peyron leads a compact Vendée Globe fleet

[Source: Vendée Globe] After 16 days of sailing, just 50 miles cover first to fifth as the leading group squeeze ever-closer, with several skippers throughout the fleet engaged in some great battles with their nearest rivals as backing winds allow them to crack off the sheets and sail for speed.

Second-placed Sebastien Josse (BT) has got leader Loick Peyron in his sights, and by the 1900hrs (GMT) update has brought the deficit down to just 10.1 miles. It’s been a good day at the office for ‘Jo Jo’, who gained more than 18 miles on Gitana Eighty since this morning.

Marc Guillemot on Safran is also having a great duel with Briton Brian Thompson on Bahrain Team Pindar. The VPLP-designed Safran seems to be getting the better of the powerful Pindar at the moment, clocking up over 309 miles over the past 24 hours, the most of any boat.

Highlights from the 16th day of the Vendée Globe. 25 November 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

Speaking at this morning’s live radio broadcasts, Brian Thompson compared Safran and Bahrain Team Pindar, which are at different ends of the IMOCA 60 design spectrum. “We’re very different. We’ve been quite similar [pace] over the past couple of days, Safran has probably been a touch faster. She’s been a little bit more in the east, which may have helped her but there’s not much to choose between them. I remember at the start Safran was very fast and she’s a particularly good boat upwind, which is surprising when you look at those curved foils etc but maybe that long chine helps her go upwind as well. But it’s going very fast a lot of the time.”

Michel Desjoyeaux has also picked up the pace — he is currently one place behind Sam Davies (13th), whose Roxy is the very same boat on which he won the 2000-2001 Vendée Globe.

At the other end of the fleet Derek Hatfield now has to fend off Jean-Baptiste Desjanty on Groupe Maisonneuve, as they approach the Doldrums. “I'm also feeling the heat from Jean Baptiste who is right behind pushing hard to catch up. He is providing me with some motivation to pick up the pace now. All good stuff, as they say.”

But while picking off a rival will no doubt give any skipper some satisfaction, the real gains and losses are still to come — when to turn left, that is the question…?

Loïck Peyron extends lead in the Vendée Globe

[Source: Vendée Globe] Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) is feeling the pain going west. He has gybed twice in 20 miles and has dropped to fifth, theoretically losing 77 miles as he goes.

In contrast, as he sails east of south for the moment, Loïck Peyron on Gitana Eighty is winning miles, but – as we have said before – this stage is about lining up to go through the Doldrums and at the moment that is still about getting west on the best strands of breeze. Hence as Gitana Eighty continues on this 'making' gybe which has already stretched for 85 miles, he will continue to gain on any of his pursuants who are making west for position.

Seb Josse (BT), 'Mr Consistent' over recent days, holds second 54.8 miles on Gitana Eighty, with Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2) in third, gaining a measure of leverage some 22 miles directly to his west.

Review of the 9th day of the Vendée Globe. 18 November 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

The losses suffered by those going west should be temporary. Mike Golding has ‘lost’ more than 50 miles since lunch time, but such is the anomaly produced by a theoretical rhumb line which does not account for meteorological roadblocks such as the Doldrums where the easiest border crossing reckoned to be around 26 deg west.

Behind in 10th place, Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement) is making a big play to get west, losing 40 miles in the last four hours, but is 70 miles or so further west than the leading group, and it will be interesting to see if he gains here.

On the evening’s rankings Armel Le Cléac’h has gained to fifth on Brit Air, while Vincent Riou (PRB) is seventh, Yann Elies (Generali) gaining to sixth in a little reshuffle of the pack.

Arnaud Boissieres (Akena Vérandas) holds 11th place, making a gain of two places yesterday after re-positioning himself steadily from his extreme easterly position, although he is the next ‘victim’ for Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos II) who as well as passing Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY) today, has now accounted for Brian Thompson, GBR, (Bahrain Team Pindar) who drops to 13th, as he also tastes the bitter pill of moving west.

Yet another intense day dawns for the Vendée Globe

[Source: Vendée Globe] With memories of last year’s Transat Jacques Vabre perhaps well to the fore in his mind, Loick Peyron made his move last night to gybe back to the west and cover any further gains from the trio of Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec-Virbac 2), Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) and Vincent Riou (PRB).

Le Cam gybed back west too, but Peyron took no chances after seeing his rivals gain consistently. One year ago, racing two handed with Jean-Baptiste Levailant in the TJV, Gitana Eighty erred too far east, hemorrhaged miles and finished a disappointing ninth.

Another long night of strategic decisions, examining the meteo models, trying to second guess or responding to their rivals’ moves but Loïck Peyron on Gitana Eighty emerges with a lead of 6.7 miles ahead of Jean Le Cam (VM Matériaux) as the leading group line up for the Doldrums.

A happy Loïck Peyron sails, holding the top spot of the Vendée Globe leadeeboard. South of the Cape Verde Islands, 18 November 2008. Video copyright Vendée Globe

Le Cam gybed and is now making a more westerly course, some 75 miles to the east of Peyron, while the trio who have for a long time held the western routing are now working close to due south. Speeds have dropped right down now with ENE’ly winds struggling to top 10 knots.

Fourth placed Jean-Pierre Dick (Paprec Virbac) has lead the western pack’s advance, sailing west of the Cape Verdes yesterday, gaining more than 20 miles overnight making no gybes while Peyron made two during the night to consolidate his position.

Mike Golding, GBR, (Ecover 3) has seen his distance to the leader drop pleasingly since yesterday, now very much back in touch with Peyron, Le Cam and third placed Seb Josse (BT). From being 106 miles behind, Ecover 3 is now 54 miles behind Gitan Eighty this morning and still advancing.

Brian Thompson has also succeeded in shrinking his margin to the lead to 158.6 miles, from over 260 miles two days ago. While Golding lies seventh, Thompson is 11th with 61.5 miles to catch 10th placed Jérémie Beyou on Delta Dore.

Of those who had to restart again Dominique Wavre, SUI, (Temenos II) is now up to within 1 mile – in terms of distance to finish – of Sam Davies, GBR, (ROXY).

Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) continues to reel back miles on the fleet leaders,, making the best speed average in the fleet. From a maximum distance from the fleet leaders of 671.3 miles Desjoyeaux has gained to 527.7 miles this morning in 19th place.