On the pontoons in LSD

Big names swoop in with four days to Vendee start

With 4 days until the start of the fifth edition of the Vendée Globe from Les Sables D'Olonne, Imoca (International Association for 60 foot Monohulls) have presented their programme for 2005/06.

Twice winner of the Route du Rhum from France to the West Indies, Laurent Bourgnon, will be naming the Austrian Norbert Sedlacek’s monohull Brother at 1400 GMT today. Laurent will share this honour with Louis Cordier (8) and Arnaud Collot (28), who are both suffering from cancer and members of the charity 'A chacun son Everest' (To each his Everest).

Keen to be racing for a similar cause, Nick Moloney aboard Skandia will be raising funds for the Sail 4 Cancer movement. Nick´s target is to make 42,000 pounds sterling which symbolises a pound for each of the approximate number of kilometres that he will cover. The campaign has recently become even dearer to Nick now that his father is suffering from the disease. ( http://www.sail4cancer.org/vendee..)

Continuing the run of naming events tomorrow, the presenter of the popular British TV programme, Big Brother, Davina McCall will be at the naming ceremony of Alex Thomson’s Hugo Boss. Joining her will be the Scottish Formula 1 driver David Coulthard. In addition to his race programme, Alex Thomson has racked up a fair number of miles aboard his Hugo Boss and for his sponsor’s account. Some promotional campaigns are scheduled after the Vendée Globe in the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and the Mediterranean (Grand Prix in Monaco). These Public Relations operations may take the young Brit as far as Australia.

Amidst all this activity on the pontoons of the Vendée Globe 2004, Californian Bruce Schwab is still awaiting his sails. He is hoping that they will arrive this evening so that he can make some sea trials before the Thursday evening deadline for such trips.

Alex Thomson: “Part of my personal preparation is not to place anyone above me. The race will be very tight, more than it has ever been. There are 8 or 9 skippers capable of winning, like my friend Bilou, Le Cam, Dick, Riou, Thiercelin, Moloney...To win you need discipline, and to push the boat without exceeding the limits. I love pushing the boat as hard as it will go. The boats will be very close, so you have to be mentally prepared."

Nick Moloney (Skandia): “As regards the course for this race, there is nothing to discuss about the gates planned in the southern ocean. Essentially they are placed there to protect us (ice and proximity to the rescue services). It’s stupid to put other people’s lives in danger. The race has already got enough spirit – the exact course doesn’t matter. If it went to Tonga in the Pacific I’d go. I’ve always wanted to do the Vendée Globe so I’m doing the Vendée Globe. The emphasis for this whole issue is based on Australia because it’s in the middle of the south sea but if the race was off Chile or any other place, the MRCC would say the same thing.”