Cowes Week video report

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IT'S the Everest of yacht races.

The concept is simple: a singlehanded sailing race around the world without any stopover. That's it.

But anyone who has any knowledge of the Vendee Globe knows that this is not where it ends at all.

The Vendee Globe is the most daring, most challenging and most respected yacht race on the planet.

Only the toughest and most skilled sailors enter - and at the forefront are a host of yachtsmen and women flying the flag for Hampshire.

On November 9, Mike Golding, Dee Caffari, Alex Thomson, Sam Davies, Brian Thompson and Jonny Malbon will line up with 14 other world-class racers in Les Sables d'Olonne in France for the start of the most epic race of their careers.

The sailors will head towards the three great capes, marking the southern tips of the African continent, Australia and America in the 24,000-mile slog.

It is a challenge that Vendee veteran Mike Golding is looking forward to. The Southampton skipper, who has entered the race twice before, said: "We suffered a setback in April but having replaced the keel I'm now feeling confident we'll be able to get the most out of our time together in Plymouth."

It's not long til the start so Golding has formed an alliance with record-breaking yachtswoman Dee Caffari so the two can train together.

Caffari said: "The technical alliance has meant I'm able to line up in Les Sables d'Olonne with more confidence. This is my first Vendée Globe so working with Mike is exciting."

Gosport's Brian Thompson will be hoping not to encounter the problems he has in previous ocean races - his mast has snapped twice. He said: "Competing in the Vendée Globe has been a goal of mine for the last five years."

South-ampton's Jonny Malbon recently completed a 2,000-mile single-handed passage in preparation for the race.

He said: "With any new boat there is always going to be a few things you need to work out but on the whole I am really pleased with how the boat has performed."

Alex Thomson from Gosport and Southampton's Sam Davies will be looking to capitalise on previous single-handed race successes in the lead up to the Vendee Globe.

There's no doubt winning will be at the front of all the skippers' minds - but they'll also be thinking about survival.

9:30am Thursday 7th August 2008

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