Vendee Globe starts

The four-yearly, single-handed, round-the-world, yacht race, called the Vendee Globe, started on 9th November from Northwest France.

The 30 yachts, with only one person onboard, will sail nonstop down the Atlantic, round the southern tip of Africa (Cape of Good Hope), skirting the Southern Ocean that surrounding Antarctica as they pass across the southern Indian and Pacific Oceans, before rounding the southern tip of South America (the notorious Cape Horn) and back up the Atlantic to Les Sables d’Olonne.

This year there are seven British entries. Mike Golding & Dee Caffari are a male/female team, sailing two identical yachts, which will give an interesting challenge between the sexes. The other female competitor, Samantha Davies, is also a British entry. Alex Thomson, sailing Hugo Boss, is another well-known British entrant, previously abandoning ship (in the Velux 5 Oceans race), and being rescued by Mike Golding in the Southern Ocean. Steve White, Jonny Malbon, and Brian Thompson, are the other three British entries.

It hardly seems like it is 8 years since Ellen MacArthur came 2nd in 94 days. And 4 years since Vincent Riou finished ahead of Jean Le Cam who was only 7 hours behind after 24,000 miles and 87 days at sea!

This year there is speculation that the new generation of yachts will come close to, or even beat, the fictional Phileas Fogg's achievements, emulated by Michael Palin, in travelling Around the World in 80 Days.

It's going to be a high-speed blast around the World. I'll be hanging on via the Vendee Globe race website. Who will win? And will they beat 80 days? I can't wait!