Astronaut christens Sam Davies' new boat

The French astronaut, Thomas Pesquet and French news reader, Nathalie Renoux christened the British sailor’s new IMOCA, Initiatives-Cœur, which was launched on 30th July.
French actor François Damiens and the winner of the 1990 Vendée Globe, Titouan Lamazou were also present. Pesquet and Renoux did not however smash the usual bottle of champagne. It was a young child saved by the Chirurgie Cardiaque charity, Dibi, who smashed a balloon full of water on the boat.
Teams info
For some IMOCA skippers, the appeal of the Solitaire du Figaro never dies
It’s not unprecedented for top sailors in IMOCA to return to the Figaro class, but it’s quite unusual and this season several of IMOCA’s established skippers have been doing just that.
•••Pierre-Louis Attwell - a new skipper in the IMOCA Class with a very special message
It’s impossible not to be impressed by Pierre-Louis Attwell, who has entered the IMOCA Class this year determined to make his mark not only as a sailor with the dream of competing in the next Vendée Globe, but also as a …
•••Championship ranking
| 01 | Sam GOODCHILD
MACIF SANTÉ PRÉVOYANCE | 50.00 pts | |
| 02 | Corentin HOREAU
MACSF | 45.00 pts | |
| 03 | Violette DORANGE
INITIATIVES-CŒUR | 40.00 pts | |
| 04 | Elodie BONAFOUS
ASSOCIATION PETITS PRINCES - QUÉGUINER | 38.00 pts | |
| 05 | Francesca CLAPCICH
11TH HOUR RACING | 36.00 pts | |
| 06 | Nico D'ESTAIS
CAFÉ JOYEUX | 35.00 pts | |
| 07 | Arnaud BOISSIÈRES
APRIL MARINE - RECHERCHE CO-PARTENAIRE | 34.00 pts |