VENDEE GLOBE - ROUND THE WORLD NON-STOP

THE VENDEE GLOBE

The Vendee Globe is the only solo, non-stop round the world yacht race presenting an enormous challenge for both yachtsman and boat.

Any repairs have to be carried out without assitance.

Its history includes many tragic incidents and despite tightening of safety rules, it cocntinues to present a really hazardous test of endurance.

The race begins and ends in Les Sables d'Olonne in the Vendče Region of France, from where it heads south and then circumnavigates in a clockwise direction. Its timing between November and February ensures that competitors negotiate the Southern Ocean during what is the summer.

THE NEXT VENDEE GLOBE IS SCHEDULED FOR 2008/2009.

VELUX 5 OCEANS RACE

The Velux 5 Oceans Race is a single handed round the world yacht race. The race is in stages allowing competitors to rest and carry out repairs in port. The race has been running every four years since 1982 although it has changed its name several times since then. The starting point varies from race to race as do the number of stages.

The first races in 1982 and 1986 began and finished at Newport, Rhode Island stopping at Cape town, Sydney and Rio de Janeiro. The 1990 event replaced Rio de Janeiro stop with Punta del Este.

1994 started and ended at Charleston, South Carolina with the stage stops the same as in 1990.

1998 saw one change: the Sydney stage was replaced by a stopover in Auckland.

The year 2002 saw the race once again begin and end in Newport but this time having 5 stops: Brixham in Devon, Cape Town, Tauranga and Salvador in Brazil.

The 2006, beginning and ending in Bilbao, Northern Spain was planned with fewer stages having stops only in Freemantle, Australia and Norfolk, Virginia.

Take a look at some other major International sailing events:

AMERICA'S CUP 2007

THE VOLVO ROUND THE WORLD

THE BARCELONA WORLD RACE

Some marinas and yacht clubs in southern Spain

International boat showsworldwide.