Vendee Arctique - The Opening Half to the North - Race Report

The start of the Vendée Arctique may have been a quiet affair when the fleet set off from les Sables d'Olonne on Sunday 7 June, but it didn't take long for the pain, stress, sea sickness and breakdowns to start. Racing to the Arctic Circle and back alone, on a course where the only turning point is the latitude that defines this infamous point on the globe, has seen the fleet head up the west coast of Ireland before breaking out into unfamiliar territory for all. And there has been at least one heroic act along the way as Italian sailor Ambrogio Beccaria was forced to dive down to the bottom of his keel to free his boat after getting trapped - the footage is remarkable and his nerve breathtaking. We report on the first half of this incredible race, plus we talk to skipper Francesca Clapcich about her unconventional approach to reaching her ultimate goal.