With one Vendee Globe complete, Pip is now well on her way to the next solo circumnavigation in 2024. She’s got a new boat and a professional team behind her as she prepares a competitive campaign for the next race.
In 2021, she bought Louis Burton's IMOCA boat (Bureau Vallée 2) and pursued her dream of sailing alongside Medallia. She quickly got used to her new boat and finished 12th in the Route du Rhum in 2022. After an extensive winter refit to Medallia at the end of 2022 Pip is now concentrating on adjusting to life onboard with new and much larger foils.
This will be my first solo race with the big foils. The first objective is to "Return to Base" safely and without damage, and accumulate Vendée Globe qualifying miles. Secondly, I want to put into practice the things I've learned with my big foils and challenge myself to attack hard even when it's uncomfortable.
It's the Mecca for all offshore and ocean sailors. Every time I'm there, I'm excited, buoyed and inspired by all the projects, big and small, and by the collective passion that drives our sport forward. I first arrived at La Base in 2012 with my Mini 6.50 Pogo 2 to join "Lorient Grand Large" for training. I'd never seen so many Minis in one place. I met so many people like me. Coming from the UK, where there's nothing like this community, it was incredible to experience. I stayed as long as I could, living in my van or on my boat, to train as much as possible but also to get to know the people. It was incredible.
Well, in essence, it's pretty simple: two people or one! (haha) More seriously, the difference in mindset is enormous. With two people, you share everything: the workload, the stress, the responsibility, the problem-solving, the meal preparation, the upkeep... There's less compromise on performance, because someone is always available to keep the boat moving fast. Alone, you have to decide what is the most important thing to devote your time to at any given moment. You sleep less, you have to manage everything on your own, but for me, that's the best and biggest challenge. I'd rather be on my own!
Sleep - eat - laugh!
2022
Route du Rhum - 12th
Vendée Arctique - 13th
Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race - 17th
2020
Vendée Globe - 19th (95d 11h 37m 30s)
2019
Transat Jacques Vabre - 24th
Rolex Fastnet Race - 13th
2015
Transat Jacques Vabre - 9th
2013
Mini Transat -16th
Architect: VPLP / Verdier
Building: 2015, CDK Technologies, Port-La-Forêt
Launching: 06/09/2015
Old names: Banque Populaire VIII, Bureau Vallée II
Lenght: 18,28m
Beam: 5,80m
Draught: 4,50m
Weight: 6,5 tonnes
Mast height: 29m
Mast type: Wing-mast
Foils: yes
Upwind: 300 m²
Downwind: 600 m²
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