Vendee Globe kicks off

Termed the "Everest of sailing," the Vendee Globe race started from Les Sables D’olonne on the weekend.

One estimate put the crowd lining the foreshores around the picturesque French town at 300,000 as the 20 participants in the solo round-the-world race set off for the three-month race.

But even before the starting gun sounded, the dramas began. Bertrand de Broc’s 60ft racer Votre Nom autour du Monde EDM Projets had to return to port after the hull was holed by one his own support boats. Hasty repairs were made and de Broc returned to racing having lost 10 hours due to the incident.

Next Marc Guillemont’s Safran turned around after losing its keel in a suspected collision with an unknown object.

"At approximately 1745hrs local French time (Saturday November 10), Marc Guillemot heard a loud bang, (most) likely from a collision," his team said in a statement. "At the time he was sailing under a main and headsail. He has decided to head back to Les Sables in order check on how serious the situation is."

Guillemot returned safely to Les Sables D’olonne where his team was assessing the situation, but his further participation in the event is doubtful.

For more information and to follow the Vendee Goble, go to www.vendeeglobe.org

Budding solo sailors can also register for the ‘Virtual Regatta’ and sail along with the participants from the comfort of your own computer. At last count over 200,000 virtual skippers had signed up.