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Les Sables d’Olonne?

Never heard of Les Sables d’Olonne?
You will now…
News in today via Linkedin, the prestigious #GoldenGlobeRace 2018 which the beautiful port of Falmouth lost to Plymouth will now be held in France because of Brexit.
The race marks the anniversary of Sir Robin #Knox-Johnston’s victory in the Sunday Times Golden Globe in 1968 when he sailed Falmouth to Falmouth.

Falmouth Harbour, sunset
Falmouth Harbour, sunset

Robin sailed into history as the first man to sail solo nonstop around the planet.
Sir Robin #Knox-Johnston wrote about that in “A world of my own” (ISBN 0-246-13410-0) and he and his wife commissioned the now famous painting “Roaring Forties” ~ painted by guess who?

Roaring Forties
Roaring Forties

The event will now be sailed from Les Sables d’Olonne in the Vendee on the Bay of Biscay coast.
That suits me just fine, only 2 hrs drive from here.

#Plymouth City Council, yet again proving to be an unimaginative, lackluster crew if ever there was one, are said to have described the move as ‘disappointing’.
The #HarwichMayflower Project another great British project struggling, at present going no where, could learn a few tricks from the people at Sables d’Olonne…
I shed no tears for #Falmouth or my home port of Plymouth as the majorities in both voted for Britexit.

Barry Pickthall, journalist and event organiser, a good guy who I first met at Cowes week 1986, explained: ‘We had major sponsors lined up, but no one knows what is happening with Brexit and because of that uncertainty no one wants to spend money.
We are by no means the only sporting event affected by this. We feel that we exhausted every avenue before making this decision.

‘In contrast, Les Sables d’Olonne were ready and willing to offer significant amounts of support from the start and had sponsors lined up to help pay for the event.’

Plymouth CC’s incompetence looses the city thousands visitors and the income as well as a piece of the future, as fans from across the Europe would have descended on the city.
Plymouth city council said they could not commit to supporting the event, so Plymouth loses what could have been another piece of it’s history allowing the much smaller town and port of Les Sables d’Olonne to claim this historic sailing the event.
Good work Plymouth CC?
Plymouth City Council have thus also probably lost the famous Plymouth Jazz and Blues Festival scheduled for the race village during the event ~ brilliant work Plymouth CC~ I don’t think.
What next Plymouth CC, a major **** up with #Mayflower400? ~ you are on course for that too !!!

Meanwhile at a press conference not so far away, Monsieur Yannick Moreau, the President of the Sables d’Olonne Agglomeration said to a Classic Boat journal reporter,:
“The port of Les Sables d’Olonne, home of the Vendée Globe, is happy to welcome the ‘Golden Globe Race’, the father of all the solo round the world events, a pure race that places man and not the machine at the heart of this maritime adventure.

“The Golden Globe Race 2018 could not have chosen a better port in Europe to organize the start and finish of such a legendary race which has attracted so many sailors and adventurers from all over the world.

“The Sables d’Olonne agglomeration, the city and the Vendée partners will be happy to offer the Vendée Globe channel and public support to these adventurers who will take off from Les Sables on July 1, 2018, 50 years after Sir Robin Knox –Johnston, Bernard Moitessier and their companions set sail on the “long route”.
The Golden Globe Race is also an opportunity for Les Sables d’Olonne to reinforce its popularity with lovers of the sea all around the world.
This is a maritime adventure with a capital “A”. Welcome to Les Sables d’Olonne! “

So, Plymouth and Falmouth have lost significant business to Sables d’Olonne which now has 2 major sailing events to it’s credit so is well on it’s way to becoming a popular, famous and more prosperous venue.

Me?
I’m very anti Junckers, Merkel and the present EU Parliament in particular because of the damage and crimes caused by Merkel’s Muslim Migrant Madness and Islam in general;
To refugees, yes;
But to invite without public approval millions of unemployed, semi educated of an alien culture is like inviting more termites into your house.
But; I’m very pro the idea of European brotherhood and shared culture.
I like the Euro, it’s convenient and reduces the number of times money changers can rip us off.
So far this year Britexit has added 20 % to my running costs and is taking up more and more admin time.
Seen from here the most likely prospect looks like a ‘hard exit’ which will be a disaster for British trade.
Britexit, don’t you just love it?

Thank you Les Sables d’Olonne, something to look forward to in 2019.
I am looking forward to visiting Sables d’Olonne, enjoying the French ambiance, cafe culture and celebrating the achievement of my friend and client Sir Robin Knox –Johnston.