Summer even if it has started wet and chilly in Northern Europe is now arriving. While most families are relishing holiday time, for the Vendée Globe skippers working between technical preparation of the boat, training spells and being out there doing public and media relations many will be struggling to find a small time window to escape and replenish their batteries.

In fact summer is not really the best time for a break. The weather for sailing is often the best to take out customers, partners who are not necessarily in to sailing, let alone go racing and so maybe don’t have their sea legs yet

Public relations and training

"July is, without a doubt, the perfect time to do public relations with our partners. The weather is nice. Often it is a not so busy for companies, just before the holidays in August. So, our schedule is pretty busy.”  Manuel Cousin (Groupe Tétin) knows that his month of July will be particularly full on
When they open up, free periods will be devoted to training together with Gildas Morvan when he finishes with the Solitaire du Figaro. "We will do all the two handed races so the Fastnet, Azimut Challenge and Transat Jacques Vabre. We have some cohesion and to improve our handling if we want to be competitive. "
But even so he planned a small break of a week in August at the end of the Fastnet starting for him from August 15, "It's going to be an opportunity to at home for a bit, to work on my new house in Les Sables d'Olonne. For me who is from Normandy to be here in Vendée enjoying some sun in itself is a little like holidays. I don’t need to go far to enjoy the summer. "

Sports breaks

Others skippers take time out by enjoying sport at all different levels. Sébastien Simon just before he launches his new IMOCA Arkéa-Paprec has chosen to go to surf in Indonesia. Alexia Barrier (4myPlanet) continues to top up her physical conditioning. She will participate in the Etape du Tour, the cycling event which runs parallel to the Tour de France and so she cycles from Albertville to Alpe d'Huez on July 21st. That is 135km including several grade 1 passes, including the famous Roselend pass. Recently she participated in the Swim Run Laure Manadou on June 23 in Arcachon, an event that combines running and swimming in open water.
And of course a bunch of 2020 Vendée Globe skippers are doing La Solitaire URGO Le Figaro. Jérémie Beyou, Conrad Colman, Thomas Ruyant are taking on race leaders Yoann Richomme in a 2019 edition which has proven highly engaging.

Desperately seeking super nanny

When there are two solo racers in the same family it gets tricky. Romain Attanasio (Pure) and Sam Davies (Initiatives Coeur) have to fulfil sponsors with sailing commitments to them in July. But of course now this is holiday time from school for their son Ruben. Romain explains right now it is not so simple: "It's a real pain. We had found the ideal solution, a perfect au pair, but she had to go home urgently for family reasons. So, we are struggling a little right now. Sam's parents have gone sailing to Spain, we have not found any alternatives yet. Ruben will go to sailing school, there he is happy, but that does not take up every day. So if you know someone who wants to come and settle at home with us, we are interested!” Nonetheless the sailing couple also plan a break in August. "We'll maybe take a little boat round here: Groix, Glénan, Houat. No need to go very far. The more I travel, the more I think that Brittany is so beautiful "

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