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Vendée Globe 2016-2017
Back to the legend Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild

Vendée Globe 2016-2017

6 november 2016

Photos
Aerial view offshore of the Kerguelen Islands 4 Photos
ALONE OFFSHORE THE WEEKLY #4 Diet 14 Photos
Climb aboard with Sébastien Josse 54 Photos
Life aboard 35 Photos
Gaining height 57 Photos
Images from offshore by Sébastien Josse 9 Photos
Alone offshore - The weekly #3 Clothing 9 Photos
Night and day 16 Photos
3 Photos
11 Photos
A day with the Gitana Team 13 Photos
Meeting day in the Vendée Globe village 9 Photos
14 Photos
Mythic Sables d'Olonne's canal 18 Photos
Big Day. Good Start 31 Photos
Foiling in the breeze 13 Photos
Mono60, righting test and mast stepping. 33 Photos
Launched ! 52 Photos
Blustery baptism 55 Photos

Videos

Day 27 - Mission Kerguelen
Day 27 - Meeting the French Navy
Alone offshore - The Weekly #4 Diet
Day 14 - Saturday 19 november - On the leading edge of the front
Day 17 - Hanging on in there ahead of the front
Day 21 - Start in the Indian Ocean
Day 23 - Back up to speed
Day 24 - Heading for Kerguelen
Day 22 - First Albatros
Alone offshore - The Weekly #3
Day 12 - Thursday 17th november - Fast and uncomfortable in the South Atlantic
The Vendée Globe, a planetary race
Day 4 - Wednesday 9th - Gybe Oh!
D-Day: heading offshore
Day 3 - Surprise for the end of the day
Day 3 - Tuesday 8 November - offshore of Portugal
Drone Footage : Express delivery to Les Sables d'Olonne
D-20 before the start
Surfing session for Sébastien Josse: staying in the mix
Vendée Globe: the Gitana Team spirit 3 days before the start #1
Around the world with a smartphone
The Day Before #6
Gitana, 140 years of yachting passion
Teaser Vendée Globe
The Day Before #5
The day before #3 - Season 2016
3D Principe des nouvelles dérives à foil du Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild
The day before #2
The day before #1 - Saison 2016
3D Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild
Webzine 7 - Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 Special
See you in Le Havre !
In the wake of Gitana #4
Successful 180° test
Flash-back over 11 months of construction
In the wake of Gitana #5
In the wake of Gitana - Season 2015 #3
In the wake of Gitana - Season 2015 #1
In the wake of Gitana - Season 2015 #2
In the wake of Gitana - N°7
In the wake of Gitana - N°6
In the wake of Gitana - N°5
In the wake of Gitana - N°3
In the wake of Gitana - N°4
In the wake of Gitana - N°2
In the wake of Gitana - N°1

News from Vendée Globe 2016-2017

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Article

The Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild bound for Europe

Earlier this month, on 7 December, Sébastien Josse and Gitana Team announced their retirement from the Vendée Globe 2016-2017 following serious damage to the port foil of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild. The sailor from the five-arrow racing stable was lying in third place at the time and was one of the driving forces of the legendary non-stop, unassisted, round the world race. The announcement of his retirement after a month of racing having covered over 10,000 nautical miles was quite a blow...

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07 December
Article

Retirement of Sébastien Josse and the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild.

For the past 48 hours, Sébastien Josse, currently lying in third place in the Vendée Globe, has had to put his race on hold to focus solely on his safety and that of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild. Indeed, the serious damage to his port foil, that occurred on Monday morning at 09:30 GMT, left him in a tricky situation where he had to contend with some extreme weather conditions 40 knots of breeze and 8-metre waves to the South of Australia, along the edge of the Antarctic Exclusion Zone. This...

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06 December
Article

Hunkering down in the low pressure system

Yesterday morning, Sébastien Josse third in the Vendée Globe some 600 miles astern of the top duo -, had managed to position himself ahead of a tropical low, to his SE, and was blasting along towards the second cape in this round the world race, Cape Leeuwin to the SW of Australia. However, the skipper of Gitana Team knew the timing was tight to reap the benefits of this particularly active front, with the emphasis on trying to avoid getting caught up by the phenomenon, where 10-metre waves were...

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05 December
Article

Damage aboard Edmond de Rothschild, Sébastien Josse puts his race on hold for now

At 09:30 GMT on Monday morning, as Sébastien was positioned some 600 miles to the West of the longitude of Cape Leeuwin, Sébastien Josse contacted his shore team to alert them to serious damage to the port foil on the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild. Given the poor weather conditions that Sébastien has encountered over the last 24 hours, with the situation set to worsen in the area over the coming hours, the solo sailor, in agreement with the owners of his boat, is putting his race on hold and is...

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05 December
Article

In the throes of a gale

The Indian has stirred. In tune with a low pressure system that he observed a few days, Sébastien Josse is currently making headway in 25 to 30 knots of breeze along the edge of the ice exclusion zone. Less than 600 miles from the longitude of Cape Leeuwin (SW tip of Australia), conditions are set to get tougher, with a bumpy road ahead for the skipper of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild.

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04 December
Article

In the teeth of the matter

Whilst the Nautic Paris boat show opened its doors yesterday at the Porte de Versailles, those leading the way in the Vendée Globe are continuing to race at speed across the Indian Ocean. Indeed, according to the latest estimates, the top duo may well pass the second cape of this round the world race, Cape Leeuwin, tomorrow after less than twenty-nine days at sea. Sébastien Josse is due to pass this landmark around 24 hours later and is currently still third some 586 miles behind the leader. For...

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03 December
Article

Short-lived calm spell

The Indian is roaring in the wake of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild. A tropical low, rolling in from Madagascar, is bearing its teeth. In addition, it's set to join forces with the energy of another system, this one of Argentinean descent, currently sweeping up the fleet from West to East. Over the past 24 hours, Sébastien Josse has continued to reduce his deficit in relation to the top duo. At 14:00 GMT this Saturday, the skipper in third place in the Vendée Globe 2016-2017 was making headway...

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02 December
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Edmond de Rothschild makes up ground

For more than a week now, Sébastien Josse has been philosophically negotiating the weather systems, patiently accepting that his two closest adversaries were going to be able to steal a march on him thanks to the more favourable conditions at the head of the race. However, this 28th day at sea marks a change of fortune as the following numbers bear witness: at the 14:00 GMT ranking, Edmond de Rothschild was positioned 541.2 miles astern of the Thomson - Le Cléac'h duo, which is over 120 miles less...

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01 December
Article

A new transition

To the North of the Kerguelen Islands, in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the eagle and the lion emblematic of the hull of Gitana 16 are powering eastwards. The Thomson - Le Cléac'h duo is still leading the way some 664 miles ahead. Already though, the two leaders are beginning to stall under the influence of a buffer zone that precedes a gale announced for the end of the week. Since his rudder issues a week ago, Sébastien Josse, still third, is negotiating less favourable conditions at the back...

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01 December
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ALONE OFFSHORE THE WEEKLY #4 Diet

On Wednesday, during a radio link-up with Gitana Team, Sébastien Josse announced a water temperature of six degrees and the same for the air. Suffice to say that there's been a chilly atmosphere of late aboard the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild, which is presently passing offshore of the Kerguelen Islands at 46 degrees South. In these conditions, the solo sailor isn't straying far from his ritual of two hot meals every 24-hour cycle. A precious source of energy and comfort for someone who has now been...

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30 November
Article

To the West of Kerguelen

Surrounded by groups sailing in unison, Sébastien Josse is carving out his own wake as a solo sailor pure and true. Currently lying in 3rd place behind a Franco-Welsh duo made up of Armel Le Cléac'h and Alex Thomson, the skipper of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild is making headway at 46 degrees South, hopping between a series of rather unfavourable weather sequences. Indeed, since last weekend he's been putting in a string of manœuvres while the leaders have been able to sail nice tight trajectories...

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29 November
Article

A chill on the horizon

Isolated in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the solo sailors leading the way in the Vendée Globe are making headway beyond forty degrees South. The closest land to Sébastien Josse is situated 800 miles to his South-East and is none other than the French archipelago of Kerguelen, primarily populated by birds and marine mammals. The race has taken another turn for the sailors, who are making even more of an effort to strike a balance between speed and prudence with their piloting. Lying in third...

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28 November
Article

At top speed along the ice wall

The Vendée Globe's has twenty-five solo sailors still out on the racetrack and they are already launching into their fourth week of racing. For Sébastien Josse, 3rd some 476.1 miles astern of the new leader, Armel Le Cléac'h, the central theme for this Monday is the return of a solid NW'ly wind of between 20 and 25 knots; a precious ally that has been somewhat lacking throughout the weekend. Indeed, with progress stalling dramatically as he negotiated a ridge of high pressure, the skipper of the...

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27 November
Article

First albatrosses

The escort has arrived. In his video sent today from the Indian Ocean, Sébastien Josse gave us an insight into the ballet performed by the first albatrosses in his round the world. These fascinating birds, whose wingspan can reach up to three metres, have been accompanying the sailors since the boats ventured into these latitudes. The skipper of Edmond de Rothschild is rediscovering this fabulous sight, which he hasn't had the opportunity to enjoy since his last Vendée Globe in 2008. Inevitably,...

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25 November
Article

Sébastien Josse, 3rd solo sailor in the Vendée Globe 2016 to smash the Atlantic reference time!

The Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild passed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope at 00:44 GMT this morning. After an incredible drag race that kicked off on 6 November in Les Sables d'Olonne, the results speak for themselves. The latest of the Gitana fleet has taken just 18 days 12 hours and 42 minutes to write the first chapter of the round the world course, devouring the Atlantic 4 days 11 hours and 4 minutes faster than Armel le Cléac'h sailed it four years ago! The navy blue boat has since crossed...

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24 November
Article

At the gateway to the Southern Ocean

The top trio was still making headway yesterday thanks to a low pressure system they managed to hitch a ride with offshore of Brazil. However, the drop in pace observed since this morning's rankings, which saw speeds drop below 20 knots, is the harbinger of a change of pace at the head of the pack. Indeed, the low has stumbled into a zone of high pressure and is now shifting southwards. As such, Sébastien Josse and his closest rivals are now sailing under the influence of the Saint Helena High,...

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24 November
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ALONE OFFSHORE, THE WEEKLY #3 Clothing

In the Deep South, drastic measures! For the solo sailors in the Vendée Globe, entering the Southern Ocean meansplunging straight into winter. Whilst he was sailing in shorts and T-shirt along the length of Brazil, Sébastien Josse has now changed surroundings after hooking onto a low pressure system, which for nearly a week has been propelling them along towards the Roaring Forties. Initially the wind picked up then the blue sky turned white and the sea, flecked with white horses, darkened. Dropping...

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23 November
Article

Getting back on track

Last night, the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild hit a UFO (Unidentified Floating Object) with its starboard rudder. With the impact, the appendage's kick-up system was damaged. In this way, the solo sailor had to come to a stop for nearly four hours to effect repairs. Though the situation has since been resolved aboard the latest of the Gitana fleet, this sorry episode has cost precious miles in the rankings. Second yesterday, with a deficit of around a hundred miles in relation to the leader Alex Thomson,...

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23 November
Article

Rudder damage resolved aboard Edmond de Rothschild

Yesterday evening, at 21:00 GMT, the final ranking of the day reinforced Sébastien Josse's second place. At that time, the solo sailor was 96 miles behind leader Alex Thomson and had a few miles on third placed Armel Le Cléac'h. The pace was still high and the top trio had no intention of easing up, instead doing their utmost to make full use of the weather situation on offer. However, thirty minutes later, the skipper of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild contacted his shore crew. Whilst sailing...

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22 November
Article

In the breakaway group

Crazy times for the Vendée Globe fleet, who today lost one of its favourites following the retirement of Vincent Riou. The news came in midway through this afternoon that the skipper of PRB has been forced to retire from the race after suffering keel damage resulting from a collision with a UFO (Unidentified Floating Object). This second withdrawal from the 2016-2017 edition serves as a reminder of how tough a mechanical sport this offshore racing can be. For front runner Sébastien Josse, the race...

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21 November
Article

A question of tempo

Making headway along the course, fast, as fast as possible, whilst taking care of your steed, is a tricky equation for the solo sailors at the head of the fleet, who are powered up at an average of 20 knots bound for Good Hope. Still some 1,400 miles ahead of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild, the first of the three capes in this Vendée Globe will punctuate what has been a thrilling descent of the Atlantic at the end of the week. In the meantime, the rush eastwards is continuing apace. Still being...

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20 November
Article

Reconciliation at the head of the race

After setting sail from Les Sables d'Olonne on 6 November at 12:02 GMT, those competing in the Vendée Globe have entered their third week of racing this Sunday at noon. After a fortnight at sea, over 2,600 miles already separate leader Alex Thomson from the Spaniard Didac Costa, who is bringing up the rear, and the fleet is now split into four very distinct groups. On the racetrack, Edmond de Rothschild is still lying in 3rd place and at 17:00 GMT this Sunday he was 89 miles astern of Hugo Boss...

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19 November
Article

On the leading edge of the front

As expected, the leading boats have hooked onto the back of a low offshore of Rio de Janeiro, which is enabling them to bend their course round towards the Cape of Good Hope. Most importantly though, with this phenomenon, where the wind has strengthened to between 20 and 25 knots as it gradually shifts round to the North, Sébastien Josse and his adversaries have been able to pick up the pace. Since last night, the speeds have been constantly increasing and they've switched things up a gear in relation...

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18 November
Article

We're accelerating, heading southbound!

In his message yesterday evening, the solo sailor shared the deafening noise inside the belly of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild from the area where he tries to sleep. Making its way down the length of Brazil, the 18.28-metre hull is surfing along an isobaric wave at an average of 20 knots. Gitana 16 is marching along towards a low pressure front which will carry the Vendée Globe leaders to the gateway into the Deep South. Some 100 miles ahead of the fleet, Briton Alex Thomson is already benefiting...

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17 November
Article

Speed and trajectories in the South Atlantic

At the 14:00 GMT ranking, Sébastien Josse was lying in third place, some 83 miles shy of leader Alex Thomson and just 0.10 miles astern of Armel Le Cléac'h! In the past 24 hours, the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild has passed PRB, which dropped to fourth place this morning, and has made up twenty miles or so on Banque Populaire VIII. The latter and Gitana 16 are now equidistant from the leader, albeit with a lateral separation of around a hundred miles. In a sweltering heat offshore of Brazil, negotiating...

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17 November
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Night and day

Children often ask skippers: Hey, do you stop your boat at night to sleep? It's a simple question and yet its response gives us a true insight into a complicated element in the life of a solo sailor. Aside from the 24 Hours of Le Mans and certain rallies or extreme trail running, it's rare for a top-level competition to take place at night. Indeed, solely offshore racing requires the athletes to take this on for such a long duration, forcing them to completely modify their way of life. The solo sailor...

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16 November
Article

Edmond de Rothschild attacks the southern latitudes with the leading pack

Whilst we're well into autumn and preparing for winter in Europe, the sailors leading the way in the Vendée Globe made the switch into the southern summer last night by crossing over the equator into the southern hemisphere. Aboard Edmond de Rothschild, Sébastien Josse crossed this imaginary line that lies at zero degrees latitude after 9 days 12 hours and 1 minute at sea, some five hours (4hr 59') astern of leader Alex Thomson. For the skipper of Hugo Boss this translated as a new record time...

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15 November
Article

A day of transition

For the head of the Vendée Globe fleet, of which Sébastien Josse forms part in 5th place, the second week of racing kicked off with a negotiation of the famous doldrums, a zone not exactly relished by sailors due to its versatility and its random nature. After 36 hours at a reduced pace, which was more or less severe depending on whether the sailors opted for an E'ly or W'ly trajectory, the solo sailors appear to have shaken themselves free of its clutches. As a result, the speedos have perked...

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14 November
Article

Blue Monday in the doldrums

For days, observers had been announcing a fairly inactive doldrums, which was showing the Vendée Globe sailors its best side. But that was without banking on the magic' of this famous Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone, as Sébastien Josse described it this lunchtime, or its most unpredictable nature… Third in the 08:00 GMT ranking this morning as he entered the doldrums, Sébastien Josse had slipped down a place in the 17:00 GMT position report and was 97 miles shy of leader Alex Thomson.

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13 November
Article

Belting along, whilst there's breeze

For the past 24 hours, Alex Thomson and Sébastien Josse have posted the best average speeds of the fleet: 18.7 knots for Hugo Boss and 18.4 knots for Edmond de Rothschild. These two foilers are slipping along in what is still a steady NE'ly trade wind, though it is set to ease over the coming hours, heralding their proximity to the doldrums, which is sprawled across their path straight ahead. Since the start of the weekend, there has been a certain amount of reshuffling of the hierarchy among the...

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12 November
Article

Cape Verde points

After setting sail from Les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday 6 November, the twenty-nine competitors in the Vendée Globe are experiencing their first weekend at sea. The leading group, nicknamed the seven musketeers by observers, is still being led by Armel Le Cléac'h. Aboard Edmond de Rothschild, Sébastien Josse is right in the game, holding onto his westerly separation; a mature position with a view to the upcoming passage through the doldrums. The solo sailors are currently approaching Cape Verde...

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11 November
Article

Trade wind drag race

With Madeira yesterday, the Canaries today and the Cape Verde archipelago tomorrow, the skippers in the Vendée Globe are ticking off a quick succession of islands on the route down to the Doldrums. After a particularly intense start to the race that proved to be highly demanding for the sailors due to the instability of the conditions and a trickier weather pattern than forecast, the next three days should enable the solo sailors to take a bit of a breather. That said, it's rather a stretch to say...

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11 November
Large format

The Vendée Globe, a planetary race

During the first editions of the Vendée Globe back in the nineties, the length of time spent alone at sea and the isolation due to few means of communication resulting in a dearth of weather information, were the hard points of the event. In 2016, for this 8th edition, the sailors are still up against themselves and racing on the same course, but over time, several architectural revolutions have changed the face of the Vendée Globe. The speed of the boats has doubled on certain points of tack and...

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10 November
Article

Under the zone of high pressure, bound for the Doldrums

Yesterday evening, the weather forecasts had us believe that the head of the Vendée Globe fleet would experience a good boost in speed overnight as they finally shook off the effects of a ridge of high pressure that had been slowing the progress of the solo sailors for over 48 hours. However, the precious NE'ly breeze, synonymous with slipping along nicely southwards in the tradewinds, kept them waiting… Positioned the furthest over to the West of the leading pack, Sébastien Josse is currently...

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09 November
Article

Gybe ho!

Sixth at lunchtime, the skipper of Edmond de Rothschild has made up four places between two rankings and has been lying in second position since 14:00 GMT, some 13.7 miles astern of Banque Populaire VIII. Great work by Sébastien Josse as the head of the Vendée Globe fleet continues to negotiate an offshoot of the Azores High, which has managed to thwart the forecasts.

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09 November
Article

Flirting with the high pressure

After setting sail from Les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday at 12:02 GMT, the Vendée Globe competitors have completed their third day at sea this lunchtime. And though the race start has worked the sailors' bodies hard as they've had to battle with squalls and shifty winds in order to get the most out of their machines, the pace set by the fleet remains steady. With the exception of Armel Le Cléac'h, leader at the 11:00 GMT ranking, there is little separating those at the front of the pack and the atmosphere...

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08 November
Article

I'm getting into the swing of my round the world race

They haven't hung about! After two days at sea, the leading pack in the Vendée Globe is already closing on the latitude of Lisbon. However, Sébastien Josse has stuck to his word for the start of the race. Indeed, the skipper of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild was keen to set off in marathon' rather than sprint' mode given the marathon distance of this round the world. In this way, he's endeavoured not to put the five-arrow boat under too much pressure from the outset, especially amidst the lines...

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07 November
Article

Slip sliding out of Biscay

After 24 hours of racing, the head of the Vendée Globe fleet is already making headway offshore of the Iberian coast. Suffice to say that the lead boats have got a sprint on. If you add to that the shifty wind conditions that the solo sailors have been experiencing since last night, you'll easily grasp the fact that those setting the pace since the start of the race have only had a short amount of time to reply to the official radio sessions this Monday. Having set sail from Les Sables d'Olonne...

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07 November
Article

Abeam of Ortegal

The twenty-eight solo sailors competing in the Vendée Globe have just completed their first night in the Bay of Biscay, Spaniard Didac Costa having had to turn back to make repairs shortly after the start after suffering a leak. Posting a very fine start that enabled him to move up into the lead in the opening miles of the race, Sébastien Josse stuck to his start philosophy by sailing a careful race through the night in the leading pack. This morning, at the 08:00 GMT ranking, the skipper of Edmond...

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06 November
Article

Sébastien Josse: It's down to us to write the scenario now

The magic of the Vendée Globe, forever and for always! After leaving the port of Les Sables d'Olonne, the skipper of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild headed over to the start line where the race kicks off at 12:02 GMT. The sailor is preparing to set sail on his third solo round the world race. A slice of life' for which he has prepared intensely with the Gitana Team, Ariane and Benjamin de Rothschild's offshore racing stable. This morning, the first frosts whitened the pontoon as if to remind the...

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05 November
Article

Set off Fast' but not Furious'

Aboard the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild, a calm is gradually taking hold. Sébastien Josse has loaded his bag aboard and each of the members of Gitana Team are checking that everything's in position one last time. In Port Olona, the boat will spend a final night alone before she takes on the round the world adventure with her skipper. Sunday will begin with a series of emotional goodbyes, before launching into the canal out of Les Sables d'Olonne where hundreds of thousands of people will be out in...

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05 November
Article

The Day Before, it's today!

"I see a little emotional guy, who's living the dream." These words are those of Sébastien Josse, as he rediscovers the photos of his first negotiation of the channel in Les Sables d'Olonne in 2004. This Saturday 5 November, is the day before the start of his third Vendée Globe. It is also the day of the 7th and final opus of "The Day Before" web series, initiated 9 months ago by Gitana Team. The skipper of Edmond de Rothschild opens the Vendée Globe book for us.

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04 November
Article

Sébastien Josse tells it how it is 48 hours before the start

With less than two days till the start of the 8th Vendée Globe, the media has gathered within the exhibition celebrating the 140th anniversary of the Gitana saga in the Les Sables d'Olonne's village. They've had the final opportunity to chat with Sébastien Josse. For this Q&A session, the skipper of Edmond de Rothschild proved to be particularly amenable. Right now, the preparation for the start, on Sunday, is taking precedence over the sailor's outside commitments and notably the media. The weather...

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04 November
Article

The foiler revolution

When the IMOCA measurement switched to a more one-design format in 2013, notably with regards to the masts and keels, one might be forgiven for thinking that the creativity of the naval architects would be kept in check. Instead, Guillaume Verdier and the VPLP design office in Vannes, south-west Brittany, have given rise to some amazing new, let's call them moustached' boats.

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03 November
Article

Gitana, teamwork counts with 3 days till kick-off!

Only three days to go before the start of the Vendée Globe… a blink of an eye with regards the three years of preparation, which have elapsed for the Gitana Team. When they head out to sea, on Sunday, just minutes before kick-off on 13:02pm, the members of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild's personal bodyguard will leave Sébastien Josse head to head with a boat, which has filled their thoughts and their days since the architects' initial sketches back in 2014. In Les Sables d'Olonne, the eyes and...

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02 November
Article

"Awakening the senses series", the taste

In Les Sables d'Olonne, in a sunny ambiance that is still very mild for the season, the sailors and their teams are sharing the aisles of the Vendée Globe start village with what are still very impressive crowds for this final day of the holiday period. Sébastien Josse is setting off this Sunday for a non-stop, singlehanded race round the world race via the three capes; an event synonymous with ten to eleven weeks of freeze-dried foods and meals eaten whilst clad in foulies, curled up in the Mono60...

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02 November
Article

Never without my smartphone

Discovering the innovative video system installed aboard the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild for the Vendée Globe.

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31 October
Article

ORBITING AROUND THE GLOBE

It is impossible to be impervious to such commitment and the public clearly recognise this. Supported by a real in ux of people, the men and women who set sail from Les Sables d'Olonne at the start of the Vendée Globe have something that others do have not. Amidst a thirst to win and increasingly stringent preparation, today's sailors are a far cry from yesterday's pioneers. And yet, leaving behind one's nearest and dearest, casting o and crossing the start line alone, still stirs up the emotions...

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31 October
Article

Sébastien Josse's final week on land, an amazing paradox

With just six days to go until 6 November, Sébastien Josse is back in Les Sables d'Olonne after a few treasured moments with family. He and the boat are back together and soon to team up around the world. The skipper of Edmond de Rothschild has also linked back up with Gitana Team and the public in Port Olona. The sailors setting off on the Vendée Globe often say that they're gradually entering into their own little bubble. In fact, you can sense it in the short moments where they gaze into the...

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29 October
Article

Touring exhibition in the streets of the globe

In the weeks preceding the start of the Vendée Globe, Port Olona is where it's all happening with some twenty-nine competitors moored up and waiting for the big day. This year though, it's a very different town, that is thrilling to the rhythm of this extraordinary planetary event. Indeed, on the streets of the town centre, along the quays of La Chaume, the locals of Les Sables clearly have a very strong attachment to this race and the sailors who embody it. The open-air exhibition currently offered...

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26 October
Article

AWAKENING THE SENSES SERIES, SMELL

It is just eleven days until the start of the 8th edition of the Vendée Globe. In Port Olona, the public is out in force, the village and the pontoons are always full and the pressure mounts a little more each day for the twenty-nine solo sailors, who will set sail on 6 November 2016. This week, Sébastien Josse has left the Vendée to hook up with his Breton way of life, at home, not far from Lorient. The skipper of Edmond de Rothschild made the most of these few days off' to finish packing his...

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20 October
Article

Series "Awakening the senses" #3 Hearing

The tranquility of being at sea is not something I even think about! Aboard these boats, which are the fastest monohulls in the world for solo sailing, the noise is omnipresent, to the extent that it becomes an important parameter in a Vendée Globe preparation. To get a better understanding of this aspect, this week we have the third chapter in our immersion into Sébastien Josse's five senses: hearing.

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17 October
Article

THE CURTAIN RISES ON THE EXHIBITION GITANA IN LES SABLES D'OLONNE

Embark on the Gitana saga at the heart of the Vendée Globe village! In 2016, Ariane and Benjamin de Rothschild are celebrating the 140 years of their family's commitment and passion for yachting through the legendary history of the Gitana fleet. In order to mark this anniversary date and in homage to an exceptional season of sport with the notable participation of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild in the prestigious Vendée Globe, the owners of Gitana Team were keen to share their maritime heritage...

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14 October
Article

Full house in Port Olona as the countdown to the Vendée Globe begins

Sébastien Josse made it into the famous channel in Les Sables d'Olonne late afternoon on Thursday aboard the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild. Live on Facebook, from the drone the skipper will carry with him for the Vendée Globe on 6 November, the team shared the special moment with internet users. The sailor had left the boat's port of registry in Lorient just a few hours earlier.

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11 October
Article

AWAKENING THE SENSES

These are the last few days at the port of registry of Lorient for the members of Gitana Team, who take care of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild on a daily basis. It's time to load up the boat with enough food for 75 days at sea and all the necessary equipment, such as maintenance and repair tools, as well as spares. This Thursday 13 October, Sébastien Josse is casting off for Les Sables d'Olonne. All those competing in the Vendée Globe are expected into Port Olona for three weeks of sharing their...

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05 October
Article

New episode The Day Before #6

Happy birthday Gitana! Together with baroness Ariane de Rothschild, delve into the history of the family's quite unique maritime saga, which has since given rise to the Gitana Team, an offshore racing stable that takes up the latest major challenges on a sporting and technological level.

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04 October
Article

What's Sébastien Josse up to before he sets sail on the Vendée Globe?

On 6 November, Sébastien Josse will take the start of the Vendée Globe for the third time. In so doing, the skipper of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild is also setting sail on his fifth round the world in 14 years. As such, the sailor can rely on a vast amount of experience, bolstered by all the expertise of Gitana Team, the offshore racing stable founded in 2000 by Ariane and Benjamin de Rothschild. However, how do you best prepare for such an adventure? It's a question that can be answered in...

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03 October
Article

SERIES "AWAKENING THE SENSES

About to be isolated as he circumnavigates the world in the Vendée Globe, Sébastien Josse knows himself to be robust. However, the skipper of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild is well aware that these latest generation monohulls are breaking new ground and offer no comfort and even a great deal of hostility. In order to get a better grasp of what these words actually mean, we've asked the sailor to describe to us the way in which his five senses behave inthis most extreme reality. Through until the...

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29 September
Article

For the members of Gitana team, it's time to pack to their bags!

With five weeks until kick-off, it's time to load up the boat's living space… but not too much. It's important to choose the right gear around 300kg in addition to the sails which will enable Sébastien to take care of the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild and be self-sufficient in the most isolated places on the planet. With an eye on safety and daily life, packing your bag is not a simple affair for the skipper. You need to find the right balance between wanting to prevent any potential issues and...

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06 September
Article

New episode of The Day Before #5

For offshore racers, the Vendée Globe comes around every four years and has a degree of intensity reminiscent of the Olympic Games. Skipper Sébastien Josse and the members of Gitana Team have been preparing for this quite unique event for several years.

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18 August
Article

GITANA, ENTERING INTO THE LEGEND

On 21 September 1876, baroness Julie de Rothschild inaugurated her auxiliary schooner, La Gitana, on Lake Geneva where she smashed the speed record. Back then, nobody suspected that this passion for on-the-water competitiveness would continue through to the modern day in the Franco-Swiss line of the Rothschild family. As such, in 2016, Ariane and Benjamin are celebrating a quite unique maritime-themed family saga, 140 years of daring, performance and human adventure through the legendary history...

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05 April
Article

The day before #2

With 7 months to go till the start of the Vendée Globe and to celebrate its second take, The Day Before is offering you the chance to take a topical tour of Gitana Team's design office, that is as rich as it is varied. Indeed, within the five-arrow racing stable various projects are in the process of being skilfully juggled. In the multihull sector, we have the 70-foot Edmond de Rothschild, which has been embroiled in her second offshore flight campaign for some days, and over the longer term, the...

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05 March
Article

The Day Before, Gitana Team's new web series

2016 and we're about to kick off a season that promises to be intense, thrilling and inevitably sporty. Within Gitana Team, there has been another studious winter with the juggling of two refits and the monitoring of a third which, despite the work taking place at Multiplast in Vannes, is of equal importance going forward. Indeed, the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild has undergone a number of transformations around the foil casing in order to accommodate new appendages, whilst aboard the Mono60 Edmond...

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16 October
Large format

Review of the genesis of the most recent Gitana

Launched on 7 August 2015, the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild will take the start of her first race in ten days' time: the famous Transat Jacques Vabre between Le Havre and Itajai in Brazil. We take the opportunity to look back at the genesis of the second IMOCA in the Gitana saga, a latest generation Verdier creation designed for the next Vendée Globe.

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14 August
Article

Fit for service!

After an eleven-month build at the Multiplast yard in Vannes, the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild hit the water for the first time last Friday 7 August. However, this initial contact with the liquid element was in no way synonymous with the start of sea trials. Indeed, launched without a keel or a mast, the 60-footer fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild quickly made for nearby Lorient to have these precious elements stepped and undergo a series of tests that are compulsory for any new IMOCA monohull,...

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07 August
Article

Exit this way!

In January 2014, the racing stable founded by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild announced its return to the great planetary adventure that is the Vendée Globe, the focus of which was the creation of a new boat in line with the aims of Sébastien Josse and the Gitana Team. After an eleven-month build phase at the Multiplast yard in Vannes, south-west Brittany, the Mono60 Edmond de Rothschild hit the water for the first time this Friday 7 August. The third IMOCA of the latest generation to be unveiled,...

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07 August
Article

In the wake of Gitana, August 2015

In offshore racing, very often we know the stories of the sea or the biographies of the sailors setting off on the races, but very little about the background to the teams hidden behind the performances. Dive into the heart of the Gitana Team and each month you too can explore behind the scenes of the offshore racing stable fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild; such is the promise of the web series In the wake of Gitana. Construction, research and development, optimisation, training sessions,...

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19 June
Article

IN THE WAKE OF GITANA, JUNE 2015

In offshore racing, very often we know the stories of the sea or the biographies of the sailors setting off on the races, but very little about the background to the teams hidden behind the performances. Dive into the heart of the Gitana Team and each month you too can explore behind the scenes of the offshore racing stable fitted out by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild; such is the promise of the web series In the wake of Gitana. Construction, research and development, optimisation, training sessions,...

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20 February
Article

Hull and deck released from the mould for Edmond de Rothschild

Set in motion last September, the construction of the future Imoca monohull Edmond de Rothschild is continuing to progress at the Multiplast yard in Vannes, south-west Brittany. Week on week, the pieces of the giant puzzle are coming together. Indeed, two of the boat's main sections, the hull and the deck, were successfully released from their mould this week. These operations, which have taken up nearly 12,500 man-hours with a team of some twenty or so people, marks the end of the first phase devoted...

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09 December
Article

On every front

The winter break is not a very fitting concept within Gitana Team. Just a few days after the prize-giving for the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe, which definitively rounded off the adventure of this 10th edition and the very fine 3rd place secured by the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild in the Ultime Class, Sébastien Josse was back in Paris at the Porte de Versailles in the aisles of the Nautic Boat Show. Indeed this Tuesday afternoon, the sailor attended the first press conference for the Vendée...

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02 July
Article

In Gitana's wake, July 2014 discover the 4th episode

With four months to go till the start of the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe and despite the upcoming summer holidays, the atmosphere remains more studious than ever within Gitana Team. Relaunched mid-May, the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild has been performing a series of sea trials offshore of her Lorient base to ensure she is all ready in early November in St Malo. Her skipper, Sébastien Josse, is making the most of every opportunity that comes his way to rack up some miles in solo configuration,...

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12 March
Article

The monohull Edmond de Rothschild, a Verdier VPLP design built at the Multiplast yard

At the end of January, the Gitana Team unveiled the outlines of its programme for the next five years. In so doing, the offshore racing stable, founded by Baron Benjamin de Rothschild, announced Sébastien Josse's first participation in the legendary Route du Rhum race; a challenge which the sailor will take up this November at the helm of the Multi70 Edmond de Rothschild. To pull off this feat, the 70-foot trimaran is currently undergoing a refit in Lorient, where the emphasis of the work is on...

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