The days leading up to the start of the Vendee Globe solo round the world race involved the skippers making last minute tweaks and crowds of sailing fans getting a look at the boats. Here are some photos from dockside in Les Sables-d'Olonne. Taken by experienced ocean sailor and shore crew guru Brian Harris prior to the start on November 6, 2016, they show some of the advanced elements, such as the scimitar-like foils, multiple pop-up rudders and deck spreaders routinely used on these boats.
Clockwise from upper left: Crowds lined the docks to get a look at the racers; A foil on Hugo Boss; Line handling setup on Hugo Boss; Edmond de Rothschild from astern; Edmond de Rothschild with its foils covered; a foil on No Way Back.
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