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The ultimate sailing event 'Round the world, non-stop, skipper and boat working with global weather systems to produce the best result Update February 21: Roland Jourdin breaks the 24 hour distance record for monohulls on his approach to the finish, claiming third place on the podium. Marc Thiercelin, meanwhile, wallows in the East Atlantic while the weather gods play cruel tricks. He finishes almost a week later. Finally, Catherine Chabaud loses her mast just 550 miles from the finish and within striking distance of fifth placed Dominic Wavre and sixth placed Thomas Coville. February 11: Michael Desjoyeux claims the Vendee Globe crown, but wonders at the skill and talent of young Ellen MacArthur certain to place second. Meanwhile a battle for third is still being fought between Roland Jourdain and Marc Thiercelin. But first, we re-live the entire event from go to whoa! February 7: What North Atlantic High? Just one day in fickle winds and a cold westerly change signals the end of the balmy trades and the beginning of a hectic ride home as Desjoyeux maintains his lead over the wonder girl, Ellen MacArthur. February 1: Just five miles separated Desjoyeux and MacArthur in the doldrums, now it is a fight for the finish. But first - the North Atlantic High. Will skippers sail upwind to Cape Finisterre, or slacken sheets and sail around the high to the north? And what about those terrific winter frontal systems! Meanwhile, Yves Parlier wins the hearts of his people as pictures bring home the remarkable story of man versus mast. French Marine photographer Thierry Martinez offers us a crisp view of Parlier working in a remote anchorage off Stewart Island, New Zealand. January 24: After a week of jousting with the South Atlantic High, Michael Desjoyeaux's lead has been whittled to a tenth of what he started with. Now come the trades ... January 17: Leading skippers enter the South Atlantic High: Which route will prove the best? Will Desjoyeux's leadership come under attack? January 10: Leader Desjoyeaux to round the horn within 24 hours after surfing the back of a slow-moving low pressure cell for the last 2000 miles. Now comes the tricky part as skippers battle to windward up the Atlantic. January 3: Westerly winds show the way to Cape Horn for the three front-runners in this very close race, but leader Michael Desjoyeaux has problems with his power supply ... December 27: Peaceful Christmas for race leaders as vigorous westerly flow lies to their north. Celebrations include passing the half-way mark for the race! December 21: Yves Parlier dismasted east of the Kerguelen Islands but vows to keep racing under jury rig. Meanwhile, a blocked weather pattern south of Western Australia and a developing low south of Cape Leeuwin poses a challenge to leading yachts. December 14: Wild week in the Southern Ocean, as records tumble, icebergs threaten, and light winds and weak low pressure make skippers work overtime in the vicinity of the Crozet Islands. View Animated Southern Ocean Pressure maps from December 7-10, with an explanation of what the heck is going on! December 6: Leading yachts are in the grip of the roaring 40s, with Yves Parlier announcing a new solo Open 60 24 hour record. But sailing away from the influence of the St Helena High and into the south proved more difficult than expected ... December 1: Trough of low pressure east of Argentina offers hope of a quick slide below 40 degrees south November 27: Back in amongst the trades, but this time the Southern Cross replaces Polaris as the pole star. Now, all eyes focus on the St Helena High and a band of low pressure off the coast of Argentina, to see if a corner of the high pressure zone can be cut, and valuable miles saved. November 22: Skippers negotiate the doldrums, but South East trades aren't far away! This report includes a great animated .gif of the Inter-Tropic Convergence Zone and the North Atlantic. November 19: What variable winds? Deepening high helps to set record pace as yachts surf downwind towards the doldrums. November 15: Downwind sleigh ride is over for now as yachts pushed hard toward the Canary Islands by a strong frontal system head toward a sea of variable winds. November 11: From storms to calms. After 70 knot winds delayed the start by four days, light winds are the order of the day as skippers sail west out of the Bay of Biscay. But what lurks around the corner? Storm delays race start by four days
Background Vendee Globe 2000: What this race is all about. The best of the best: We tip the best skippers out of the 24 starters.\ Global weather tactics with routing guru Bob Rice. From the doldrums to the Southern Ocean, the world's best ocean forecaster walks us through the challenges skippers will face during the Vendee Globe. Experience Southern Ocean survival as we review Tony Bullimore's book 'Saved'. This remarkable man was one of three competitors in the last Vendee Globe to experience disaster at sea. © weather-wise.com 2000 |