Humming in Les Sables d'Olonne

200,000 people have already been down to the Vendee Globe boats

More than 200,000 visitors have already visited the Vendee Globe pontoons in Port Olona, Les Sables D'Olonne since the opening weekend of the Race Village on 18 October with the organisers predicting a staggering 1 million people passing through the site - the equivalent of filling Wembley Stadium 11 times in a row - before the start day on Sunday, 9 November. 

Despite the skippers being given free time this week and the occasional downpour, the public queue for hours to get a close-up view of the incredible 30 strong fleet of Open 60s and the occasional glimpse of a skipper creates an immediate ripple effect as people surge forward to wish them 'bon chance'.

Meanwhile shoreteams are busy their boats in various stages of preparation, most thankfully reaching the end of this road.

Yesterday aboard Kito de Pavant's Groupe Bel, it was the rigger who was hard at it: "I'm putting a sheath on the halyards, where they leave the mast. They are starting to become a little fluffy, and we want to be doubly sure, as they have to last for three months," he explained. 

As for Delta Dore, Jérémie Beyou has returned to LSD, but on board it is fairly quiet: apart from the food, everything has now been stowed  There will be one final sea trip next week to see how the green and white monohull behaves now that she is loaded. 

There is a similar situation on board Paprec-Virbac 2 where they are now sticking on labels, while skipper Jean Pierre Dick is bent over the computer screens. "I'm in the middle of re-reading the race instructions, going through all the problems that may arise over the course. I have just come back from a few days in Corsica and inland from Nice. I'm feeling calm, yet being kept busy all the time, and I'm very pleased to be back with my team," he said, while his shore crew Julien Penven added: "A little nit-picking, a little bit of fiddling, as there are always possible improvements, but in fact, the boat has been fully ready since late July."

The crew on Maisonneuve state the same: "A boat is like a house.  It's never really finished.  Basically, Maisonneuve could more or less set sail tomorrow.  But we'll keep finding jobs to keep us busy and we'll be checking things over and over again." 

On board Roxy, the instruction manuals and procedures are being written down for Sam Davies and one final climb to inspect the mast is planned.

In the cockpit of Cheminées Poujoulat, they are giving the winches a final service.

Joff Brown, project manager for Dee Caffari's Aviva: "We are pretty much there at the moment. I think we maybe have five things left to do on the jobs list and that will be it, all wrapped up tomorrow.  Because next week it is all sponsors and media, so it is busy on the boat. Dee will be back and so it will be trying to help build confidence in her. Really we set ourselves the target of having the boat race ready before we got here and there are usually just a few little jobs that slip through.»

Akéna Vérandas skipper Arnaud Boissières said of their progress: "Since Sunday, we've noticed a distinct change in the weather.  Time to get something warm on our heads and meanwhile the stress is gradually building. The boat is ready, and now we have to take advantage of these final ten days, particularly with the sponsors.  This evening, the boat will be open to the employees of Akena and their families for two and a half hours."

Even on Artemis, Graham ‘Gringo’ Tourrell, Jonny Malbon's boat captain says they are almost there: “These last ten days are just about making sure the boat is spick and span, because there will be sponsors coming out and Jonny will be needing to spend some quiet time on the boat, down below looking at the weather files and the start and routing, and so our job then is just basically making him as relaxed as possible, and looking after the sponsors then, and so the last week should not really involve any jobs of any significance at all."

BT skipper Seb Josse returned to LSD on Monday for three days of sailing, putting in a few final hours for some training: ""It's important to spend a bit of time training on the water with the shore team. Each of them are giving me advice and different tips regarding their technical area. Together we're doing the final adjustment of the boat, final check on the autopilot, the communication system and son," explained Seb. Now he has another few days away to relax  before returning to Les Sables d'Olonne this coming Monday for the final week before the start - a week full of media demands, sponsor engagements and race organisation briefings.

There will be a tangible change in the atmosphere next week as the clock ticks towards the start at 13h02 on Sunday, 9 November. For the skippers the pressure will be intense  - they have spent many, many months, if not years, preparing for this moment.
Sébastien will spend more and more time onboard concentrating on the weather and strategy for the early part of the race.

Most of the time people forget than behind a skipper there's a full team of professionals working hard to ensure that the boat is ready for racing with a number one priority of ensuring both boat and skipper get to the finish as fast as possible but as safely as possible.

BT's 10-strong shore team for example ranges from technicians to riggers and from composite experts to communication specialists. They are the ones you will see on the boat now, scuttling up and down, in the cockpit or at the top of the mast. Pierre Emmanuel Hérissé, Boat Captain and faithful friend of Sébastien since the last Vendée Globe is in charge of the shore team. He is supported by Paul-Ed Henry who is in charge of logistics for the boat and the team, alongside Julie Royer who manages Seb's media engagements. On the boat right now, you're more likely to meet Yvan Joucla (rigger), Cyril Ducrot (mechanics and hydraulics), Jeff Cuzon (electronics), Mathieu Hacquebart (composites) and Olivier Douillard (sails) who are busy double-checking what has already been double-checked! The BT IMOCA 60 Team is proud of its 'international' status amongst the 30-strong fleet - the French contingent within the shore team is balanced out by a few other nationalities including Charlie Carter (UK) one of the original build team, technical consultant Neil Graham (AUS), Rhys Mellor (NZ) in charge of composites and Jamie Butterworth (UK), BT Sponsorship Manager.  

"I'm really lucky to have such a good team," commented Josse. "We're working in a funny atmosphere and laughing a lot. And the fact that the team is   international is a big advantage. Each of us has a different approach   to a problem, different idea or way of doing things and we take the better of each culture! A big thank you to all of them, they're   doing an amazing job. Ten days before the start, BT is ready. The shore team  is only doing some details and it allows me to be more relaxed and without any pressure. If I had to leave tomorrow, I will be ready!"

These final days are also spent preparing the boats are also an opportunity to take care of a few little surprises on board, by stowing away or hiding presents that the skippers will dig out at Christmas. Thus, Erwan Steff has already taken care of the Christmas meals and presents for his skipper Yann Eliès on Generali.

More photos on page 2...