There is something special about the atmosphere in a race village before the start of a long-distance event. Whether it's the Volvo Ocean Race, the Vendée Globe, Transat, ARC or OSTAR, it's a potent mix of feverish activity, adrenalin, excitement and anticipation. If you could bottle it, you would make a fortune.
Unlike in the early days of the Whitbread or OSTAR, these days the top crews have preparateurs to help out with those last-minute jobs, victualling and stowing while skippers and crews are more likely to be fulfilling sponsorship obligations or going to weather and safety briefings.
It's a far cry from a Friday afternoon dash round the local Safeways for canned food for two for 35 days on a transatlantic starting the next day. In fact, we took 29 days in a 34-footer in 1990 and the extra six days of food stayed on board until the boat was sold five years later.
But how I felt for Alex Thomson when the immaculately prepared Hugo Boss was holed and dismasted in a collision with a fishing boat just outside Les Sables d'Olonne on delivery to the Vendée start. For him, 'preparation' took on a whole new meaning as he and his team attempted to repair the major structural damage to the hull and mend the mast. For a time it looked as though they wouldn't make it, but Hugo Boss was relaunched with a week in hand (see page 18).
I can't help wondering whether the British have some sort of Vendée jinx. Eight years ago Mike Golding was dismasted on the first night of the race, four years ago his keel fell off just 50 miles short of the finish. And also four years ago Thomson was forced to retire with structural problems and Conrad Humphreys lost a rudder. I hope the Britpack, along with Thomson in a repaired Hugo Boss, all get round in one piece this time.
