The latest VendéeGlobe round-the-world yacht race, which set out from Les Sablesd'Olonne in France pre-Christmas 2004, was given a safe and suresend-off by a fleet of Mercury OptiMax powered Valiant RIBs.
A total of 33Valiant boats, mainly Vanguard DR 570 RIBs with OptiMax 115outboards, provided the 20 competitors in the Vendée Globewith pre-race support, ferrying people, equipment and suppliesaround the yachts, harbour and coastline.
The race organiserschose Valiants because of their reputation for ruggedness andreliability, and OptiMax because the quietness of the power fits inwith the character of the eco-friendly race. Boats and engines weresupplied by the local Mercury dealer, Polypat.
The VendéeGlobe is running for the fifth time. It is for single-handed60-foot monohulls, with the skippers not allowed to make stop-oversnor receive assistance.
Vincent Riou/ PRBis the big winner of this edition. He arrived on February 2nd,after 87 days, 10 hours, 47 minutes and 55 seconds, with an averagespeed of 11.28 knots.