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Keep up with the big stories in the sailing world, right here on CNN MainSail. You can find out who is leading the Volvo Ocean Race and Richard Bransons TransAtlantic record attempt with regular official updates here.

• SPEED SAILING: French trimaran sets another record, aims for big one
• VOLVO OCEAN RACE: Volvo fleet dodge pirates and arrive in India
• OLYMPICS: Sailing facility is first London 2012 Olympic venue completed
• PIRACY FEARS: Race boats, private charters, luxury yachts threatened
• LONDON 2012 GAMES: Olympic class announcement sparks criticizm
• ROLEX AWARDS: Ben Ainslie crowned ISAF World Sailor of the Year

Sailing the Hugo Boss Open 60

Seeking a Passage to India: Cape town to Cochin - Weeks Update

"You saw 90 km/h of wind and 50 ft waves yesterday, so seeing 60 km/h  winds and 30 ft waves today dosen't seem so bad.

There's an acclimation that happens out there, where what would seem crazy to most people starts to seem normal" - Indian Ocean Crossing, 2006

Who's New Onboard!

Dusyant Patel, ex-CEO Ericsson Racing Team who was instrumental in the success of the Ericssons team in the 2006 edition of the Volvo Ocean race Joins the 7Oceans Team.

We also welcome onboard Frontier Defence, covering the event for the Defence Industry and Chase Capital as sponsors.

 

Updates from Sea!

From the Volvo Ocean Race: Leg 2: South Africa to Cochin

Leg 2 Got In the South latitudes Bhavik will be faced with the roaring 40s, furious 50s  and screaming 60s – the prevailing westerly winds created by the Coriolis effect. With no landmass to slow them down as they scream around the planet, these winds are the strongest found anywhere on the planet creating some of the harshest sailing conditions imaginable.

For the next few thousand miles, from Cape Town to Cochin, its going to take sheer physical stength to keep the yacht going, as the Crew of the Vovlo Ocean Race rides on the low pressure systems of the the Southern Ocean. The 7Oceans Team will gain valuable data and experience from this leg of the race to enable Bhavik to face these conditions by himself, during his Solo Round the World record attempt.
Read More at http://volvooceanrace.org/news/article/2008/november/LEG-TWO-PREVIEW/

 
From the Vendee Globe: Giving it some

Bhaviks Ultimate Goal - Winning the Vendee Globe & IMOCA World Championship - The Formula 1 of Yacht Racing.

The send off was huge. Every vantage point along the canal from the haven of Les Sables d’Olonne (France) port to the sea was jammed deep with tens of thousands of well wishers.

The pace at the front of the fleet is incessant. The leading five are passing Madeira with Loïck Peyron hanging on to a lead of 13.6 miles, making nearly 16 knots of boat speed, ahead of Seb Josse (BT) who has taken back second and who lead last night.
Read More at http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/news/5627/giving-it-some.html

Volvo Ocean Race contenders face new sea challenges - Pirates off Somalia

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) -- The eight yachts taking part in the grueling round-the-world Volvo Ocean Race are poised to challenge new seas in a bid to avoid pirates off the coast of Somalia.

For the first time in its 35-year history, the event has included an Asian stop on its itinerary. The traditional second leg from Cape Town to Australia or New Zealand -- a journey of howling storms, fierce seas, biting cold and icebergs -- has been replaced by the unknown dangers awaiting the boats on a 4,450-mile journey to the Indian port of Cochin that begins on Saturday.

Several of the boats suffered storm damage on the first leg, and the crew of Ericsson 3 was busy replacing a keel on Friday, less than 24 hours before the race restarted.

Read More at http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/11/14/sailing.volvopreview.ap/index.html

An Update from France: Vendee Globe Starts

The send off was huge. Every vantage point along the canal from the haven of Les Sables d’Olonne port to the sea was jammed deep with tens of thousands of well wishers.

There were tears on the dockside as lines were slipped, and dozens and dozens of messages along the long stretch of sea walls that funneled the record sized fleet to sea – from the simple and direct, to the personal, or the generic ‘Yes We Can’. The atmosphere was everything that makes the Vendée Globe a truly unique experience. More than 300,000 people bid the 30 skippers on their way.
The record entry of 30 boats answered the start gun at 1302hrs (local time/1202GMT) under grey, threatening skies with an awkward swell and 13-18 knots of breeze — the skippers setting off in the knowledge that winds of up to 45 knots await them. 

VOR Overall Standings - Leg 1

24hrs to go: Vendee Globe: Around the World Alone Race

Down on the pontoons in Les Sables d’Olonne, the looks on the faces have changed. Their minds are now elsewhere looking ahead to the near future, where land will be but a memory. There is a mixture of excitement and apprehension. For the sailors getting ready to set sail in 24 hours at the start of the non-stop single-handed round the world voyage, these final moments ashore are packed with contradictory emotions, making this an extremely difficult moment to get through.
Follow the race at www.vendeeglobe.org