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Factory redevelopment reduces build costs and 2009 price tags
Hot on the heels of their excellent financial figures for 2008, Fountaine Pajot – the world’s most experienced builder of cruising catamarans – has just revealed more good news for 2009 that’s sure to please multihull buyers all over the world.
The latest report to emerge from its headquarters in La Rochelle, is that Fountaine Pajot’s re-development programme has allowed the firm to cut production costs for its range of sailing catamarans. What’s more, the production savings are being passed-on to customers with a corresponding price reduction.
Time is simply dragging for some, for others the spur is simply getting closer to the finish, but many of the remaining Vendée Globe skippers have their primary goal now getting home as quickly and safely as possible, such is the spread of the fleet now, and the distance between the remaining boats.
The exceptions are probably Sam Davies, GBR, (Roxy) and Marc Guillemot (Safran) who have a fight on their hands, but even Davies admitted last night that she is looking forward to getting back to a long shower and home comforts.
After taking on second place yesterday Armel Le Cléac’h is now expected to finish in Les Sables d’Olonne between 1800hrs Thursday and 0600hrs Saturday morning but the Brit Air skipper has one big hurdle to negotiate before he can consider the prospects of his place on the second step of the podium after Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia).
Le Cléac’h is expecting winds of over 45 knots, gusting to 60 knots with a big, awkward cross seas to contend with, as he counts down the final 1000 miles to the finish line.
Ericsson 3 is being moved to the port of Hualien in Taiwan to undergo major repairs to its bow structure, the first step in the team’s gamble to finish Leg 4 and be on the start line in Qingdao for Leg 5 to Rio.
Loaded onto a 100ft steel barge and towed by a Taiwanese tugboat, the damaged boat left the port of Keelung, where the team had pulled in after suffering major structural damage and began taking on water during Leg 4.
In the light of a forecast of more than 40 knots of wind tomorrow and his need to have a four or five days window of favourable weather, Roland Jourdain’s Vendée Globe has come to a sad and all too premature end, bitterly frustrating for a hugely likeable skipper who has contributed everything he has to this race.
Who can forget the images sent of his sheer enjoyment and mischievous fun, dressing up as Father Christmas with a beard fashioned from white net and a pirate’s eye patch? But he has been the one skipper this race who has really had the capacity and drive to push Desjoyeaux for so long. As many skippers said today, he deserved better than to have his race ended with less than 1300 miles to sail. Jourdain reached the Sao Miguel safely haven this afternoon.
Global sportswear brand, Helly Hansen, has announced it has signed British Class 40 sailor, Hannah White, to its International Sponsorship Programme. 25 year old Hannah, will become the first British sailor to be signed as an International athlete by the brand.
For over ten years, Hannah’s passion for sailing has seen her competing in numerous races across the world – including being the youngest skipper to enter the famous OSTAR (Original Single-handed Trans Atlantic Race) in 2005. Over the next two years, Hannah will be focusing on the Class 40 circuit, with plans to compete in several Trans-Atlantic races such as the 2009 OSTAR, Class 40 Worlds and the gruelling Global Ocean Challenge -which will see her sail single-handed around the world.
Telefonica shore boss Campbell Field has revealed that discussions are underway to decide whether the Blue team should take a calculated gamble on new rudders.
The move would cost Bouwe Bekking’s title-chasing crew three points, but after positive feedback from the Telefonica Black team, who adopted the strategy ahead of leg four, the syndicate is weighing up the merits of the swap.
“It could potentially happen for the next leg,” Field said. “There are meetings and briefings happening now. The conclusion might be let’s leave it until after the in-port race (on February 7). I’m prepared for any eventuality. They could make the decision at any point really; it’s a pretty straightforward and quick swap.”
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Sailing more than 28,000 miles, averaging around thirteen knots, French solo skipper Michel Desjoyeaux has shattered the Vendée Globe race record today on his way to becoming the first solo skipper ever to win the solo non stop around the world race twice.
After winning the race in 2000-1 on PRB, eclipsing the young emerging British skipper Ellen MacArthur by 1 day 28 minutes, Desjoyeaux joined the 30 strong field for this race, the biggest entry ever round the world race in sailing history, as one of the clear favourites.
Telefonica Black face a race against time to join the fleet for leg five after setting sail at the end of the week for Singapore.
The team had been docked in Subic Bay in the Philippines for five days since a cracked hull wrecked their leg four trip from Singapore to Qingdao.
The severity of the damage had been rated as a "three or a four out of 10" by the team's shore boss Campbell Field, but after some repairs the boat returned to the water on Friday and is expected to reach Singapore by the middle of next week.
Delta Lloyd campaign director Tom Touber has confirmed that the team will not return to the race until the fleet reaches Rio de Janeiro.
Their boat was one of a number of casualties on leg four, suffering a cracked bow bulkhead as well as bow delamination before suspending racing and heading for shelter at Keelung Bay in north-east Taiwan.
The damage has since been deemed too severe for a quick repair and the team now hopes to get a berth on a ship tomorrow, which would see them arrive in Brazil on March 4, nearly three weeks before the fleet.