Godforsaken Sea: Racing The World's Most Dangerous Waters

The Vendeé Globe yacht race is the ultimate test in sailing. Competitors take to the sea in 60-foot yachts sailing from France, across the Atlantic Ocean, around three capes, and through the perilous Southern Ocean, before heading back to port in France. This is a grueling task for any sailor, but to attempt this single-handedly and non-stop means that this race is only for the worlds most experienced and daring sailors. The 1996/97 race gained national interested in Britain when the English competitor, Tony Bullimore, capsized his boat in the most remote part of the Southern Ocean, and waited patiently in his upturned boat in 50 foot waves and gale to hurricane force winds for four days while the Australian Navy made their rescue attempt. Tony Bullimore was not the only sailor to get into trouble in the ferocious Southern Ocean during this race. The French sailor, Dinelli, waited for 2 days on his half sunken yacht, strapping himself to his broken mast and surviving the harsh elements while he waited for a fellow sailor to tack 400 miles back to his wreck.