Vend\u00e9e Globe competitor and Yachting World contributor Pip Hare, and Paul Larsen, the fastest man on water, take a look at all 33 boats which will be starting this year\u2019s solo round-the-world race on November 8The 2020 Vend\u00e9e Globe, which sets off on Sunday, November 8, sports one of the most diverse IMOCA fleets the event has ever seen. Over the 33 entries there is an enormous diversity in design trends, cockpit styles, foil innovations, with the oldest boats in the fleet launched in the mid-1990s, and the newest splashing just this year.
\nFirst time Vend\u00e9e Globe competitor Pip Hare, who\u2019ll be starting with the fleet this Sunday, and Paul Larsen, her training partner and the holder of the world speed sailing record, take a fascinating walk along the pontoons at Les Sables d\u2019Olonne for Yachting World.
\nIf you\u2019ve ever wondered \u2018whatever happened to\u2026?\u2019, or wonder which boat the pros fancy racing, then enjoy this series of three videos with an insider\u2019s view of the 2020 Vend\u00e9e Globe fleet.
\nIn part one (above) they debate which boat is the oldest and most well travelled in the fleet, find out what happened to Ellen MacArthur\u2019s old Kingfisher (and some of Alex Thomson\u2019s former Hugo Boss racers), discuss how the new curved \u2018C\u2019 foils work compared to the \u2018Dali\u2019 generation, and share their pick of the fastest non-foiler in the fleet.
\nIn part two they check out the IMOCA which Greta Thunberg crossed the Atlantic on, the IMOCA which was originally designed to be a fully crewed \u2018Super 60\u2019, Paul Larsen reveals why IMOCAs don\u2019t always need to cant their keels anymore, discusses the pros and cons of \u2018fences\u2019 on foils, and reveals which of the new boats is reputed to be the easiest to sail. Plus they ask the big question \u2013 can J\u00e9r\u00e9mie Beyou\u2019s Charal be beaten?<\/p>\n
And finally, in part 3 they explain why Pip\u2019s own Medallia looks so different to most of her rivals in the fleet, and discuss some of the latest modifications to Alex Thomson\u2019s Hugo Boss.<\/p>\n
Keep checking back with yachtingworld.com for all the latest news and analysis from the 2020 Vend\u00e9e Globe.
\nThe post 2020 Vend\u00e9e Globe preview: Pip Hare and Paul Larsen\u2019s guide to the fleet appeared first on Yachting World.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Vend\u00e9e Globe competitor and Yachting World contributor Pip Hare, and Paul Larsen, the fastest man on water, take a look at all 33 boats which will be starting this year\u2019s solo round-the-world race on November 8The 2020 Vend\u00e9e Globe, which … <\/p>\n