Brits get ready for 2012 Vendée Globe

 

Stuart Alexander
Thursday 14 June 2012 15:12 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Samantha Davies sets out again as the only woman so far, Mike Golding squares up to his ninth round the world attempt, Alex Thomson is praying for a trouble-free start and finish and three more British singlehanders, Brian Thompson, Dee Caffari and Steve White hope to make the start of the 2012 Vendée Globe singlehanded non-stop round the world race in November.

Raising money is hard but there were 19 confirmed entries announced in Paris on Tuesday ever eager to take a physical and mental beating for the 90-plus days that it takes to slog down the Atlantic, career around the Antarctic and then fight all the way back up to Les Sables d’Olonne, on the Vendée coast of north-west France.

If the probably 20 starters is impressive as banking fall-out takes its toll on budget-raining, the prediction for the number taking part as racers in the virtual game is, at half a million, astounding.

The Volvo round the world race also has a healthy virtual game with players up at all hours of the night in a bid to beat the professionals on board. Sometimes they do.

There will also, at 107,000 square feet, be a bigger pre-Vendée village, where the size of the school parties has to be seen to be believed, and up to 250,000 will turn up to see the yachts start on 10 November.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in