Annals Of Extreme Adventure–Vendee Globe: This Sunday, the world’s most intense, dangerous and difficult yacht race will set off from the French coast. The first Vendee set off in 1989, and thirteen sailors had the guts to sign on. This year, the race’s 5th edition, there are 20 madmen, I mean skippers, including American Bruce Schwab. Bruce is a rigger from San Francisco, who has managed to get his radical unstayed wingmast design–Ocean Planet–to the start on sheer determination and hundreds of donations from fans all over the world. I went sailing with him once when I was writing a story for Sailing World on solo racing in the US, and he is a great guy. He will be TWC’s official entry, and we’ll follow his race closely despite the fact that he is not favored by the odds makers. Other skippers to keep an eye on are Brit favorite (and Vendee veteran) Mike Golding, on Ecover, and Vendee newcomer Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss. Thomson set the solo 24-hour record in race across the Atlantic last December, sailing 468 miles, and is known for his aggressive, take-no-prisoners sailing style. Which is exactly the sort of style that gives sailors in the Vendee Globe, who first want to survive and next want to win, heart palpitations.

To follow the race yourself, check in with the first-rate Vendee Globe website. You can read up on the race’s history, read skipper profiles, and check out some great video (make sure you watch the one of Thomson screaming along on Hugo Boss). This race always produces heroics, tears, soaring moments of jubilation and dark moments of frustration. It has ennobled sailors and killed sailors. It’s a classic and I can’t wait for the start…



Hugo Boss: “Holy sh*t! I wonder if I remembered to bring the periscope…”