Gitana 80 - Loïck Peyron

Vendée Globe Week 7 - Half Way There!

YachtPals — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:59:40 +0000

YachtPals.com 22 Dec
Vendée Globe Week 7 - Half Way There!

Six weeks in now, and the attrition rate in this Vendée Globe has been as predicted: Devastating. Now only 18 of the original fleet of 30 are still in the race, and with half the course to go, several of the remaining yachts and sailors are having trouble of one sort or another. There's good reason why this race is known as one of the toughest competitions in the world; sailing solo around the Pole, at breakneck speeds, these contenders are pushing technology and human endurance to the limits, and as we saw last week, sometimes over the limits.

Vendee Globe

Vendée Globe Week 6 - Dropping Like Flies - News and Video

YachtPals — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:50:59 +0000

YachtPals.com 15 Dec
Vendée Globe Week 6 - Dropping Like Flies - News and Video

Southern Ocean - After five weeks, the fleet has entered the toughest waters of the world, in the toughest race in the world. The 2008-2009 Vendée Globe fleet is in the snow and ice, with up to 60 knot winds buffeting the craft and waves that look like giant blackened teeth, ready to chew these boats up, and spit them out. Three more yachts fell out last week, meaning that nearly a third of the fleet has retired from the race, and its less than half over. This is sailing writ large, and it looks like things may get worse before they get better.

Aviva

Gitana 80 Dismasted - Loïck Peyron Video

Loick Peyron — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:13:37 +0000

Gitana 80 dismasted while sailing in the Vendée Globe 2008-2009

- Loïck Peyron

Vendee Globe

Loïck Peyron Dismasted in the Vendée Globe

YachtPals — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:35:28 +0000

YachtPals.com 10 Dec
Loïck Peyron Dismasted in the Vendée Globe

Southern Oceans - Loïck Peyron called his shore crew today to announce that he had been dismasted while sailing in the Vendée Globe around the world yacht race. The incident occurred shortly after 1400 hours GMT, with Gitana 80 in 3rd place position. Loïck was down below when the mast fell, and is unharmed. Thus far, there is no explanation for the dismasting, nor was there any warning. It seems the mast was there, and then it wasn't.

Vendee Globe

Vendée Globe Week Five - "Chasing the Dawn"

YachtPals — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:53:48 +0000

YachtPals.com 08 Dec
Vendée Globe Week Five - "Chasing the Dawn"

The Vendée Globe sailors have made the turn to the East. At the beginning of week five, the fleet is now down to 24 boats, as Unai Basurko aboard Pakea Bizkaia has officially retired from the race with rudder problems. The yachts are in the South, and the trip around the pole has begun. If the first part of the race was the shakedown, and the last part is the sprint, then what the fleet is doing now is running the gauntlet. It's make or break time in the Vendée Globe.

Last week's Vendée Globe highlights:

Aviva

Sailing Gitana Eighty

Loick Peyron — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:25:57 +0000

Sailing Gitana Eighty

Gitana 80 - Loïck Peyron

Onboard Gitana Eighty - Loïck Peyron

Loick Peyron — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:55:05 +0000

Loïck Peyron sailing Gitana Eighty.

Gitana 80 - Loïck Peyron

Vendée Globe - Week 4

YachtPals — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:43:18 +0000

YachtPals.com 01 Dec
Vendée Globe - Week 4

Three weeks into the Vendée Globe Race, and 25 boats remain from the fleet of thirty. Delta Dore officially joined the ranks of the bruised and battered when Jérémie Beyou resigned from the race with unrepairable damage. The pack is tight, the winds have shifted, and the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe is nearing the Southern Oceans. The first

Aviva

Loïck Peyron video

Loick Peyron — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 19:48:27 +0000

After losing time under the famous cloud yesterday, I’ve really got back into the thick of the action. In fact I’ve just been speaking with Seb, and I can see Armel. It’s quite nice to be sailing within sight of everyone.

Our monohulls being fairly similar in terms of performance, it’s rare to be able to escape. Having said that it’s true that since the start, there have been two or three tricky passages which have favoured those behind. The opposite would be most welcome right now so we can benefit too!

Vendee Globe

Vendée Globe Week 3 - Hitting Below the Belt

YachtPals — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:30:18 +0000

YachtPals.com 24 Nov
Vendée Globe Week 3 - Hitting Below the Belt

Equatorial Atlantic - Two weeks in, and most boats in the Vendée Globe fleet have now crossed the 0° line, finding themselves solidly in the Southern Hemisphere. Foulies have given way to swimsuits (or birthday suits), Neptune has been appeased with champagne and goodies, Winter is in the wake, and the South Atlantic awaits.

Aviva

Loïck Peyron Vendée Globe Video

Loick Peyron — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 04:39:35 +0000

Sailing in the Vendée Globe Loïck Peyron

Gitana 80 - Loïck Peyron

Vendée Globe video - Loïck Peyron

Loick Peyron — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:32:50 +0000

Sailing Gitana Eighty in the Vendée Globe - Loïck Peyron

Vendee Globe

Gitana 80 Sailing Video

Loick Peyron — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:20:44 +0000

Sailing Gitana 80 in the Vendée Globe.

Loïck Peyron

Gitana 80 - Loïck Peyron

Vendée Globe Race - Week Two

YachtPals — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:29:17 +0000

YachtPals.com 17 Nov
Vendée Globe Race - Week Two

Eastern Atlantic - Amazing that it's only one week in, and nearly a third of the boats sailing in the Vendée Globe fleet have had to turn back. Tough storm conditions and bleeding edge boats don't always mix well, and in the rush for last-minute preparations, some of the IMOCA Open 60's simply weren't ready. Luckily, though some of the boats are in bad shape, the injuries reported were mostly in the form of bangs, bruises, wrenched muscles and tired backs.

Aviva

Vendee Globe 2008-2009 Start with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

YachtPals — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 19:57:24 +0000

YachtPals.com 09 Nov
Vendee Globe 2008-2009 Start with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Les Sables d'Olone, France - Around Alone: Two words that every sailor understands to be the ultimate challenge. To circumnavigate solo is so difficult that more people have traveled in outer space than have sailed non-stop around the world singlehanded, and far more have climbed Everest. There is no greater test of a person and a boat, and those 30 sailors that set out today on the Vendée Globe race will be racing against themselves as much as each other. As nearly every one of them we spoke to has said, they'll be l

Aviva

Vendée Globe Photo

DuffDuff — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:09:01 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 08 Nov
Vendée Globe Photo

Loïck Peyron - A Candid Chat with the Jedi Master

Fred Eagle — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:54:51 +0000

YachtPals.com 03 Nov
Loïck Peyron - A Candid Chat with the Jedi Master

As the Vendée Globe fast approaches, Loïck Peyron is preparing his 60 foot yacht Gitana 80 on the pontoons of Les Sables d'Olone for what will be her maiden voyage around the globe. Loïck is no stranger to circumnavigation; this will be his third time traversing the world by yacht, and his second participation in the Vendée Globe.

Vendee Globe

Loick Peyron - The Jedi Master

Fred Eagle — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:09:15 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 03 Nov
Loick Peyron - The Jedi Master

Gitana 80 Handbook

Loick Peyron — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:53:36 +0000

YachtPals.com - Online Cruising Guides

Gitana 80 - Open 60 Sailboat: A 60-foot monohull (Imoca class).
Skipper: Loïck Peyron
Designed by Farr Yacht Design and put together at New Zealand's Southern Ocean Marine boatyard during the winter of 2006-2007, Gitana Eighty's arrival marked the return of a monohull to the Gitana fleet. Courtesy of its cutting-edge design, this new monuhull is ideal for its prime objective: solo sailing.

Gitana 80 major technical innovations:

Gitana 80 - Loïck Peyron

Record SNSM - the Jedi Master Sails to Victory

YachtPals — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:16:46 +0000

YachtPals.com 24 Jun
Record SNSM - the Jedi Master Sails to Victory

The racing fleet of IMOCA Open 60's made it back into the Loire Estuary this morning for the finish of the Record SNSM sailing race. The fleet was led by Gitana 80, which crossed the line at 0544:07GMT with an overall time of 1 day 12 hours 9 minutes and 7 seconds. YachtPal Loïck Peyron and his four crew – Cyril Dardashti, Antoine Mermod, Didier Le Vourc’h and Sébastien Thétiot – now add the Record SNSM to Gitana Eighty’s growing list of victories.

Gitana 80 - Loïck Peyron

Record SNSM - Superstar Sailing in France

YachtPals — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:49:22 +0000

YachtPals.com 23 Jun
Record SNSM - Superstar Sailing in France

Brittany, France - The fourth edition of the Record SNSM started yesterday off the eastern jetty in the port of Saint Nazaire, on France’s Brittany coast in the Atlantic. A crewed yacht race from St. Nazaire to St. Malo and back, this sailing race is providing a fantastic spectacle, with a mix of amateur and professional sailors competing on high speed monohulls and multihulls. The fleet of Imoca monohulls include seven of the yachts which will be competing in the upcoming Vendée Globe this fall.

Groupama 2

Loïck with Sam and Dee - Photo

Dee Caffari — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:19:05 +0000

Photo at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community 09 Jun
Loïck with Sam and Dee - Photo

Sailor in the Spotlight Interview - Loïck Peyron

YachtPals — Sun, 25 May 2008 23:41:00 +0000

YachtPals.com 25 May
Sailor in the Spotlight Interview - Loïck Peyron

We spoke with Loïck Peyron today, fresh from his multi-record-making win of the Artemis Transat, where he has further secured his place as one of the top sailors in the world. If there's anyone with salt water in his veins, it's Loïck.

Gitana 80 - Loïck Peyron

read more

Artemis Transat 2008 - Loïck Peyron Wins in Boston!

YachtPals — Sat, 24 May 2008 03:54:09 +0000
YachtPals.com 24 May
Artemis Transat 2008 - Loïck Peyron Wins in Boston!
YachtPal Loïck Peyron has won the 2008 Artemis Transat Race aboard Gitana 80, and in doing so has set a new world record! This makes the deservedly revered "Jedi Master" the first skipper to have won three times, and he has raised the bar very high for all those who follow.

Gitana 80 - Loïck Peyron

read more

Artemis Transat Day 12 - Look out for whales!

YachtPals — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:15:33 +0000
YachtPals.com 22 May
Artemis Transat Day 12 - Look out for whales!
We could find no records of a race that was so affected by wildlife. As of last night, yet another boat (Sam Davies' Roxy) struck a whale: "I sailed into a whale - my starboard daggerboard took the shock and now I can only use half my daggerboard. Bit scarey! I was sitting at back of the boat fixing my mainsheed padeye and doing about 13 knots."

Roxy - Sam Davies

read more

Artemis Transat - the Hitchhiker - Loïck Peyron Blog

Loick Peyron — Wed, 21 May 2008 20:50:42 +0000
Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

This cohabiting is changing my rhythm and my habits but it is also complicated for Vincent. He had a good night and was very well behaved! The poor old thing is trying to do as little as possible but I think it’s fairly unsettling for him. The few hours detour has put me on a slightly more Northerly course than the one I wanted to adopt, but it's not necessarily an issue for the next stage in the game.

PRB - Vincent Riou

read more

Artemis Transat - Vincent Riou on PRB Abandons Ship

YachtPals — Tue, 20 May 2008 17:31:15 +0000
YachtPals.com 20 May
Artemis Transat - Vincent Riou on PRB Abandons Ship
The leader in the Artemis Transat sailing race Vincent Riou reported hitting a large sea mammal at 3:00 AM this morning with his Open 60 sailboat PRB, and is now out of the race.

PRB - Vincent Riou

read more

Artemis Transat - Warm and Sunny - Loïck Peyron Blog

Loick Peyron — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:49:12 +0000
Blog at YachtPals.com - The Online Boating Community

Conditions are still quite incredible… It’s calm with a tempest of blue and 30°C on the deck of Gitana Eighty: you could also imagine you were in the Mediterranean. I’ve never experienced that in my previous four participations… I’ve never done this transatlantic race in swimming trunks before, particularly to the south of Newfoundland. All in all, our ice gate is appropriately named as, once you go through it, you're certain not to see any!

Gitana 80 - Loïck Peyron

read more

Artemis Transat Day 8 - Out of the Darkness

YachtPals — Sun, 18 May 2008 18:14:06 +0000
YachtPals.com 18 May
Artemis Transat Day 8 - Out of the Darkness
The blackout is over, and BT is out of the race - undone by a broken mainsail car. BT skipper Sébastien Josse said "Of course pulling out at that stage is a big disappointment, but you know these things can happen. We've seen the boat was capable of being ahead of the best of the IMOCA fleet, that means our optimisation process was based on the right choices.

Aviva

read more

Artemis Day 6 - Slow and Blind

YachtPals — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:28:17 +0000
YachtPals.com 17 May
Artemis Day 6 - Slow and Blind
Fast sailing speeds were not in the cards today for the solo sailors in the Artemis Transat single-handed sailing race. As forecast, the calms have enveloped the head of the fleet and the sailors have simply had to put up with the conditions as they try to extract themselves from this tricky zone.

Aviva

read more

Artemis Transat Breaking News - Foncia Hits Whale!

YachtPals — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:57:53 +0000
YachtPals.com 15 May
Artemis Transat Breaking News - Foncia Hits Whale!
Just in From Michel Desjoyeaux aboard the open 60 Foncia: "About two hours ago, I was upwind doing 10 to 11 knots, I was in the boat and I heard a crack. I felt the starboard daggerboard hit something - it's probably broken. I can't get it up more than 1.5 meters. I hope there won't be a big leak.

Aviva

read more

Artemis Transat Day 4 - Blackout Ahead

YachtPals — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:35:01 +0000
YachtPals.com 14 May
Artemis Transat Day 4 - Blackout Ahead
The purpose of single-design classes in racing are to even the playing field and highlight the skippers' skills. Thus, the leading pack of open 60's in the Artemis Transat is still very tight in terms of distance to the finish, after more than 800 miles spent at sea. The initial North vs. South tactical decision that has spread the leaders along the latitudes, and how that will pay off for the individual boats, is what some say will make this race. 3rd place Sébastien Josse says the dice were thrown 48 hours ago, while his rivals remain skeptical.

Toe in the Water - Steve White

read more

Artemis Transat - Day 2

YachtPals — Mon, 12 May 2008 18:14:28 +0000
YachtPals.com 12 May
Artemis Transat - Day 2
Light winds, thick fog and heavy traffic marked the first day of the Artemis Transat, and race strategist Jean-Luc Nélias's take of the situation is that it will be a good race: "The race looks complex with many possible changes of leader." There's no doubt that the sloppy weather and shipping have put all skippers immediately on alert, and the differing strategies are spreading out the fleet - there's no easing into this race, not this year at least.

Toe in the Water - Steve White

read more

Artemis Transat - Single-handed Plymouth UK to Boston US

YachtPals — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:31:04 +0000
YachtPals.com 10 May
Artemis Transat - Single-handed Plymouth UK to Boston US
Plymouth UK - As the crews make their final preparations for the Artemis Transat in Sutton Harbour, the IMOCA Open 60 and Class 40 sailboats are ready for the sail across the Atlantic to Boston.

Toe in the Water - Steve White

read more