Sail: the fantastic attempt of Philippe Monnet, from Cannes

Aboard the Uunet, he wants to beat Mike Golding's record for the solo world tour in the opposite way. It is the most difficult event for which he will represent the French Riviera…

It is the great departure for the navigator from Cannes, Philippe Monnet! Aboard the Uunet (the name of the Internet operator which is the main sponsor of the event), he left the harbour of the Moulin Blanc this Sunday morning at 9.00. He went through the road of Brest, surrounded by a flotilla of boats and launches and he crossed the starting line a bit before 15.00. It is the beginning of an incredible trip by sail, a crazy attempt to beat a record: to go faster than the British Mike Golding, in a solo world tour on the opposite way which will oblige him to navigate nearly all the time with the wind astern.Sophisticated computer equipmentsFor what's considered as the most difficult event, Mike Golding holds the record. He got it in 1993-1994, with 161 days, 16 hours, 32 minutes and 24 seconds to finish the travel. Philippe Monnet wishes to end in 145 days. Besides, "in order to stimulate himself" as he said, he brought with him provisions for only 145 days. However, his attempt follows a great preparation.We could talk about a double preparation. First, the preparation of the boat, the former Fleury-Michon of Philippe Poupon was completely redesigned. This 60-feet monohull, which was wrecked, was found and Philippe Monnet had bought out the hull in 1997 for the amount of 500,000 francs. With this hull, a fantastic Briand's plan, the naval architect, Marc Lombard, redesigned the sailing ship. Aboard, Philippe Monnet was ranked sixth for the "Route du Rhum" in 1998.The other big preparation concerns the electronic equipment and very sophisticated communication systems. Sponsored by the worldwide leader for the Internet access providing, the sailing ship, Uunet, used networks at best. It is equipped with two computers, satellite connections which allow him to benefit from an exceptional ship routing. Thus, Philippe Monnet got the counselling services of Météomer, a company on the French Riviera managed by Pierre Lasnier who has already worked with several famous skippers such as Loïc Peyron (Vendée Globe 1989-1990, Twostar1994), Bruno Peyron (Trophée Jules Vernes 1993), Philippe Poupon (Vendée Globe 1989-1990, Atlantic Record 1987), Olivier de Kersauzon (Trophée Jules Verne 1996), Giovanni Soldini (Around Alone 1998-1999), Florence Arthaud,…News to be followed on the InternetIt will also be possible to follow his achievement on the Internet on live. Besides, an attempt of record through the sea never benefited from such an opening to a public of Internet users. The website www.70degressud.com is an example of this type. It is very well designed and it brings news daily, allows to follow the whole ship routing operation with explanations and presents the ship.We can also find sound interviews and video images. For this, the boat owns a very performing video equipment: five fixed cameras are set in the square, in the cockpit and on the deck. They are linked to several microphones and two DVCam video cameras.For nearly five months, it will be possible to live Philippe Monnet's challenge via the Net. All the more that this great attempt is also the one of the French Riviera. If Philippe Monnet, 40 years old, is originally from Savoie, he lives in Cannes since about twenty years. The French Riviera also follows his achievement. Among the other sponsors, other than France Info, a group from the French Riviera: the town of Cannes, the sail-loft Elvstrom of Nic Johansen at "La Bocca", the Carlton, Cannes' harbour, the Swift marine company, Mediaco. It is a dynamic image for the Riviera…