A top class sporting line-up with no fewer than nine nations taking part, Race HQ based at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, multi-screen international TV broadcasts, innovative digital and media arrangements… The eighth Vendée Globe already looks like being an exceptional vintage and confirms its place as the world’s leading ocean race and a major sporting event.
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Look back to the pre-start period of the last edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, the two handed Transatlantic race from Le Havre to Brazil two years ago, and there were clear favourites in most classes. But, as the sages constantly remind us, ocean racing is a mechanical sport which is entirely reliant on what the weather and sea conditions deliver. And so there may be pre-race race favourites but there is no such thing as a certainty.
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With 6 IMOCA running the Vendée Globe this year (over a total of 20 units), the view of these well known designers bring interesting light and perspective on the future of those racing beasts.
Continue Reading ...VPLP Enters the World of Class’40: The first monohulls could be launched this summer; the moulds are already under construction. It is the start of a new adventure for VPLP, Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prévost…
Continue Reading ...03/2010 – On March, 11th, Vincent Riou and team PRB assembled at Port la Foret to launch the new IMOCA 60’ designed by VPLP / Verdier. The bright orange beast was lowered into the water under the expert eye of Hubert Desjoyeaux who built the carbon racing machine at CDK Technologies. A healthy crowd of […]
Continue Reading ...11/2009 – VPLP are celebrating a victorious Transat Jacques Vabre this year, with Franck Yves Escoffier driving their Formula 50′ trimaran Crêpes Wahou! to cross the finish line first after 15 days, 15 hours, 31 minutes and 50 seconds. He was followed soon after by the first of the monohull fleet: theVPLP / Verdier IMOCA […]
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With the latest deluge of arrivals in the Rolex Fastnet Race, overall victory is currently looking like it might be claimed, in this 90th anniversary running of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s flagship offshore race, by a fast boat in the 35-40ft range. Most promising at present is Gery Trentesaux’s new JPK 10.80, Courrier Du Leon.
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The Europa Race will indeed set sail from Istanbul on 5 May 2012. Under threat for a while, in the face of the Franco-Turk diplomatic controversy, the race is finally going ahead thanks to the combined willingness of the organiser, Olay Nautic, and IMOCA who have made sure that everything is in place so that this essential meeting is honoured in the event schedule.
Continue Reading ...08/2010 – The Imoca skippers are due to meet up again in St Malo on 31st October for the Route du Rhum-la Banque Postale and in Barcelona on 31st December for the Barcelona World Race. 9 boats are set to compete in the Rhum and at least ten for the Barcelona. At the present time, […]
Continue Reading ...11/2009 – Prior to the start in Le Havre, it was Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air) who stood the best chance of winning ahead of Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) and Marc Guillemot (Safran). However, with the skipper of Brit Air suddenly forced to retire from the race, Marc Guillemot (Safran) could only snatch championship victory if […]
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