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Above: Michel Desjoyeaux rounds Cape Horn in the last Vendee Globe

Singlehanded offshore racing

From Mary Ambler, Clipper Ventures

As the first and only 'non-French' person working in the Vendée Globe organisation for the 2000/1 race, I can totally empathise with Ed and had to go and look back at my archives as soon as I had read his article, just to re-live those feelings which make me so passionate about solo sailing...

It was a cold, dark and rainy January 10th in central Paris, a core gathering of French press were all waiting expectantly with us in the Race HQ for this historic moment to happen... when the phone rang loudly, we all jumped to attention as Mich Desj' voice came through the loud speakers, saying "It's pelting down all around me, it's like a monsoon overhead. About 15 minutes ago I passed by a rather famous rock - somewhat a great relief! I've been trying to manoeuvre around the Chilean coastline, and I've done it - I've passed Cape Horn!"

Not 30 minutes later that very same picture [see above] came through on the email - you could read the lines of relief on his smiling face! This image represented the final landmark in the Vendée Globe for Mich, the last of the three famous Capes, the end of the Southern Ocean, and was the moment where this modest French sailor, who had never completed a solo race longer than a Transat, walked into the pages of sailing history.

And despite the deceptively calm seascape behind the skipper, receiving this simple picture in itself was just incredible and breath-taking - how modern technology can meet nature and inspire such emotion. In minutes the photo had been diffused world-wide to TV and print media, and in the race office we stuck a copy of the picture on the race notice board and saluted Mich with a glass of champagne - we felt we were with him at that moment. Now I remember why I love this crazy world I work in, so thanks for unlocking the nostalgia for a short time Ed and I hope that the Around Alone 2002/3 will create some more historic moments, I'll make sure to get you on the start line then!

From David Bains

It's true that any single-handed circumnavigation is a very great achievement ,and winning a single-handed race requires great commitment and knowledge and self reliant ability. However it's also exhausting and lonely and frankly ageing. Some great achievers have abruptly stopped this type of sailing and returned to crewed or shorter single-handed events.

The multi circuit is attracting so many now that Loick Peyron is complaining that a '"mere Vendee Globe" entitles also-rans to new boats. A Vendee or Around Alone should be a once only pinnacle of most sailing careers in my opinion. The RYA is right to think that surfing single-handed through ice strewn waters is questionable and several long distance rescues by the Australian Navy bear this out.

As a Mediterranean cruiser myself on a 40ft tri, I find myself doing more single-handing than I ever expected to and I do enjoy it, although I don't enjoy sleep deprivation. In my humble opinion most of these races should be double-handers. This is in effect racing with two single-handers on board and is much safer and more enjoyable.

[Ed note: Loick Peyron was referring those who came in at the back of the Vendee fleet or suffered some serious drama...]

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