Jean-Pierre Dick, has overtaken his fellow frenchman Sebastien Josse and shot into the lead of the Vendée Globe Solo Round the World Yacht Race. The Race, which was one of the starting pinnacles of Dame Ellen MacArthur’s sailing career, is considered by many to be the most gruelling of solo races. The 30-boat fleet of contestants entered the Indian Ocean southeast of the Cape of Good Hope on Monday having started and continued non-stop from the west coast of France on 9th November.
Josse was also overtaken by Roland Jourdain, another frenchman, and the fourth spot is occupied by Loick Peyron, meaning that the first four places in the race are currently waving the french flag. 68.3 nautical miles behind the leader is the first non-french contestant, England’s Mike Golding. Six boats have already dropped out of the race and with the rolling and unforgiving oceans of the south yet to come we could see further abandonments as the race progresses.
Watch this space for more information!
Some information courtesy of the Daily Times.
Next year will be the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’, the world famous book where Darwin outlines his theory of evolution and natural selection that now underpins much of our modern understanding of the natural world and our own development. Darwin was travelling on board the HMS Beagle as a naturalist and gentleman’s companion to the captain, Robert Fitzroy, when he encountered the 
The Stateside Boatbookings team have been cruising the boat shows of the Caribbean (still ongoing!) and at the recent British Virgin Island (BVI) and St. Thomas Shows they have formulated a list of their top picks for the coming season. Here is what they had to say:
The West Indies Events and the St. Maarten-St. Martin Classic Yacht Regatta Foundation have finalized the schedule for regattas in the Caribbean just in time for you to organize your trip there and wrap it up as a wonderful Christmas gift, Valentine’s gift or as an Easter egg replacement. For those of you who have been before the format of the St. Maarten – St. Martin regatta is changing slightly to be more accomodating, by moving from Simpson Bay to the Great Bay yachts will no longer have to enter the lagoon and pay the high fees to do so. The Marina at Great Bay is also going to be expanded to include a 30 slip mega yacht marina and a large shopping complex and free berthing is available to Classic and Vintage yachts, Schooners and ‘Spirit of Tradition’ yachts in Bobby’s Marina.