The last official skippers’ briefing for the Vendee Globe has just taken place (1000 this morning) in Sables d’Olonne.

With now less than 24 hours before the skippers leave the dock for their start tomorrow morning, the atmosphere here at the village of Sables d’Olonne is starting to hot up. And despite the closure of public access to the pontoons thousands of visitors are still flowing into the village. According to the organisers more than 300,000 visitors are expected to turn out tomorrow to bid their final farewells to the skippers as they leave dock.

First off in the morning at 0830 is Anne Liardet aboard Roxy followed every five minutes in quick succession by the rest of the 21-boat fleet. The first Anglo Saxon team member to leave is Nick Moloney aboard Skandia at 0855.

The weather situation is for a generally light start with north-westerly winds reaching no more than 7-8 knots. However, the forecast is to freshen from the west overnight tomorrow reaching 30-35 by Cape Finisterre which should give the fleet a good initial blast downwind.