VENDEE GLOBE - It is a very special formula which delivers outright victory in the Vendée Globe, the solo non stop around the world race which starts this Saturday 10th November at 1302hrs local time from Les Sables d’Olonne in France’s Vendée region on the Atlantic coast.

The seventh edition of the race is perhaps one of the most open yet. Given the range of variables which come into play over the 24048 miles course predicting a possible winner is never easy, not least considering that over past six editions 49% of the starters have been forced to retire.

The economic climate which has prevailed since the 2008-9 edition has perhaps reduced the possible fleet size but in many respects it has also polarised the overall calibre and professionalism of the entries. Even so there are still a number of skippers for whom simply finishing back into Les Sables d’Olonne in Feburary next year will represent success in itself.

The favourites….in theory 
On paper if half of the skippers who are entered are equipped with the skills, experience and boats capable of winning this Vendée Globe there are probably three soloists who stand out as favourites. Armel Le Cléac’h sailed a smart, well modulated race to finish second in the last edition with a boat which was not the quickest in the fleet. He returns with a new generation design Banque Populaire. Vincent Riou (PRB) is the only skipper to have won the race before, triumphing in the 2004-5 race.

Both are equally open in their ambition to win, whilst Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3), twice winner of the two-handed Barcelona World Race, is slightly more discrete in revealing his ambition, to make the transition to solo success.

All three sailors have well funded, long term programmes with well optimised latest design generation boats and all have accumulated the racing and training miles which should ensure a measure of reliability.

Podium prospects
Add to this trio are number of podium prospects. François Gabart (Macif) is considered the best young, emerging talent. His project has been managed by double Vendée Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux and Gabart has already won the Transat BtoB race last winter. He is methodical and highly motivated and has also has a new generation VPLP Verdier design. And from the same lineage of talent Jérémie Beyou (Maitre Coq) is a twice winner of France’s solo Solitaire du Figaro race which is seen as the proving ground for aspiring Vendée Globe skippers.

Marc Guillemot has to be considered a podium contender. His 2008-9 race saw him finish third overall. His race was perhaps the richest in terms of human experience – he stood by the injured Yann Elies in the southern ocean, battled around the world with a damaged mast track which meant he sailed most of the course with two reefs in his mainsail, and finally lost his keel 1000 miles from the finish.

Switzerland’s Bernard Stamm has twice won round the world races with stops but has never finished the Vendée Globe. But he has one of the most powerful new boats in the fleet and if he can keep it intact represents an outside podium chance.

The Best of British 
The British duo Mike Golding (Gamesa) and Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) cannot be discounted in assessing possible podium finishers. Thomson has more reliable, proven allround boat which as well as winning the Route du Rhum transatlantic finished second in last year’s Transat Jacques Vabre transatlantic raced and more recently reduced the outright Transatlantic speed record by more than 24 hours.

Thomson himself is more rounded, more experienced and better able to moderate his attack than previous races and is determined to achieve a solid finish in this race.

Golding has already achieved a third in the 2004-5 race and lead both that edition and the last, heading the fleet December 2008 when he lost his mast. He is racing his fourth Vendée Globe with a boat which is now well optimised and has achieved a high degree of reliability.

And within that enclave of possible podium finishers French favourite Jean Le Cam, second ahead of Golding in 2004-5 cannot be overlooked although he has not yet seriously raced his SynerCiel which is a 2007-8 design.

To finish first, first you have to finish 
Then there are those who are focused more on finishing, letting the result arrive for itself. In saying that they will push hard and have a good chance of finishing on the sterns of the ‘favourites’. Kito de Pavant on Groupe Bel has said his primary goal is to get back to finish in Les Sables d’Olonne after having to retire within the first 48 hours of the last race and retiring from the last Barcelona World Race at Cape Horn with keel damage. Briton Sam Davies finished fourth in the last edition and became a global sailing star. She has an older 2004 design and is aiming to sail a better race than last time, though she may have less chance of improving on her 2008-9 result.

Spain’s Javier ‘Bubi’ Sanso returns to the Vendée Globe after a 10 years absence but with the newest design, Acciona 100% Eco Powered. This edition also sees the return of Bertrand de Broc (Your Name Around the World EDM Projects). And Switzerland’s Dominque Wavre (Mirabaud) completes the list of contenders at 57 years old with seven round the world races to his credit.