Newsletter #13 - July 2016
Summer refit
While everyone else is heading for the beach, 100% Natural Energy and her technical team have set up their new headquarters in a big shed in Lorient, La Base. For Cyril and Jay, our preparateurs, holidays will have to wait a little more. Conrad verified all the new systems onboard during the two transats in May/June and to thought about all that could be improved for the Vendée Globe. A huge job list was the result! On the program: make everything even more reliable, more ergonomic and safer and the result is a thorough check over an new protective wings for the cockpit (see picture below). The boat should go back in the water around August 20th.
A multi tasking skipper
After such an intense winter it’s not easy to see everyone go on holiday but to realize one’s dreams you have to give in everything you can, all the time “I’ve been working for 10 years to get here so I’ll just have to wait for November 6th to enjoy every moment when I’ll be on my own on the boat”. This summer will be dedicated to continuing the never ending hunt for sponsors, physical preparation, weather modelling and hopefully a few mountain biking outings and short weekend getaways to refresh mind and body.
The countdown is on
Today, Friday July 29th, we’re officially 100 days away from the start of the Vendée Globe. It both feels like a huge amount of time and the blink of an eye as time is flying by at a crazy pace. The agenda is filling up with security briefings, press conferences, sponsors meetings and the boat has to be in Les Sables d’Olonne on October 14th to be ready for the village opening the next day! Stress is slowly building but so it is the excitement for the big departure!
