Ashley Cooper / Hawthorn trees (Crataegus monogyna) bent over by the prevailing wind on Humphrey Head Point above Morecambe Bay , Grange over Sands, England, UK. November 2006

Benoit Stichelbaut / Class 40 Plan AST Group yacht, Transatlantic Jaques Vabre race, October 2007

Benoit Stichelbaut / Jean le Cam and Nicolas Lunven on "Generali", Transat AG2R La Mondiale Prologue, Concarneau, Brittany, France. April 2010.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Jeanne Gregoire and Gerald Veniard aboard Figaro yacht "Banque Populaire". Transat AG2R, Port la Foret, Brittany, France. April 2010. Editorial use only.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Miguel Danet and Damien Cloarec on Figaro yacht "Concarneau-St. Barthelemy". Transat AG2R, Port la Foret, Brittany, March 2010.

Benoit Stichelbaut / "Veolia Environment" (Roland Jourdain and Jean-Luc Nelias) at the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre race, departing Le Havre, France. 8th November 2009.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Figaro yacht "Cercle Vert" with Gildas Morvan and Bertrand de Broc. Transat AG2R La Mondiale, Port la Foret, Brittany, France, April 2010. Editorial use only.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Open 60ft "Groupe Moniteur" racing, Transatlantic Jacques Vabre race. November, 2007

Benoit Stichelbaut / Fleet rounding a mark, racing at the Transat AG2R La Mondiale Prologue, Concarneau, Brittany, France. April 2010.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Arnaud Boissieres working aboard 60ft "Akena" during Transatlantic Jaques Vabre, September 2007

Benoit Stichelbaut / Skipper Armel le Cleac'h on his monohull 60ft "Britair" yacht, Artemis Transatlantic 2008

Benoit Stichelbaut / Fabien Delahaye and Armel Le Cléac'h on Figaro yacht "Brit Air", Transat AG2R, Port la Foret, Brittany, March 2010.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Fleet departing Concarneau for the Transat AG2R La Mondiale, rounding a mark. Brittany, France. April 2010.

Benoit Stichelbaut / Yachts departing Benodet at the start of the Transat Benodet-Martinique. Brittany, France, April 2011.

Rick Tomlinson / Alex Bennett trains in his boat "English Braids" for the Mini-Transat, 1999.

Rick Tomlinson / 60ft monohull "Enif Morgan Grenfell" skippered by British Richard Tolkien during the Ostar in 1992. ^^^ The 60 foot monohull finished 14th overall, crossing the Atlantic in 17d 16h 40m.

Rick Tomlinson / 35ft monohull "Flying Turtle", skippered by US sailor Murray Danforth, during the Ostar, 1992. ^^^ It finished 24th, crossing the Atlantic in 21d 5h and 41 m.

Rick Tomlinson / 30ft monohull "Gizmo" skippered by Derek Hatfield during the Euopre 1 Star, 1996. ^^^ He finished 35th and 8th in Class 6. Crossing time 28d 11h 20m.

Rick Tomlinson / Multihull "Spirit of Apricot" during the Europe 1 Star, 1988. ^^^ (The first Apricot was destroyed in the Rum race 1986)  60 foot trimaran. Finished 10th overall an in class with a 32 hours 6m penalty...

Rick Tomlinson / Fujicolor skippered by Loïck Peyron during the Europe 1 Star, 1996. ^^^ He came first in a time of 10d 10h 5m.

Rick Tomlinson / Monohull "Sill Beurre Le Gall", skippered by French sailor Roland Jourdain during the Europe 1 Star, 2000.^^^ The monohull finished 7th, crossing the Atlantic in 15d 13h 38m.

Rick Tomlinson / Monohull "Sill Beurre Le Gall", skippered by French sailor Roland Jourdain during the Europe 1 Star, 2000. ^^^ The monohull finished 7th, crossing the Atlantic in 15d 13h 38m.

Rick Tomlinson / "Aquitaine Innovations" skippered by Yves Parlier during the Europe 1 Star, 1996. ^^^ She was dismasted on June 23, 1996.

Rick Tomlinson / "Dutch monohull" skippered by Bertus Buys during the Europe 1 Star in 1996. ^^^ Finished 7th in Class IV in 30d 4h and 42 m.

Rick Tomlinson / Mike Richey skippers his new Folkboat, "Jester", in his ninth Ostar at the age of 75 1992. ^^^ He arrived in 55th position after 45d 15h 14m. The old Jester, previously belonging to Blondie Haslar, wh...

Rick Tomlinson / QAB-3 (Queen Anne's Battery), skippered by Mark Gatehouse during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ She finished 8th overall and second monohull. The boat was formerly Credit Agricole II belonging to Phil...

Rick Tomlinson / Euskadi Europe-93, skippered by Spanish sailor Jose Ugarte during the Europe 1 Star, 1992. ^^^ Coming in at 19th position crossing the Atlantic in 18d 7h 19m.

Rick Tomlinson / 50ft monohull "Telecom Italia" during the Europe 1 Star skippered by Giovanni Soldini, 1996. ^^^ He finished 5th overall and first in class with his 50 foot monohull, trailing the bigger 60 foot skipp...

Rick Tomlinson / 35ft trimaran "Severalles Challenge", designed by Philip Morrison and sailed here by British skipper John Chaundy in Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ He finished 20th in 19d 6h 37m.

Rick Tomlinson / 31ft monohull "New Yorker" skippered by Jacques Bouchacourt during the Europe 1 Star in 1992.

Rick Tomlinson / 35ft yacht "QII" during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ She was designed by Mike Pocock for British sailor Mary Falk who finished 27th overall in 21d 15h 14m.

Rick Tomlinson / Primagaz skippered by Laurent Bourgnon during the Europe 1 Star, 1996. ^^^^He capsized on June 20, 1996.

Rick Tomlinson / 40ft trimaran "Bagages Superior" skippered by Canadian Mike Birch during the Europe 1 Star in 1992.

Rick Tomlinson / QAB-3 (Queen Anne's Battery), skippered by Mark Gatehouse during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ She finished 8th overall and second monohull. The boat was formerly Credit Agricole II belonging to Phil...

Rick Tomlinson / Formula 40 trimaran "Triton Sifo" skippered by Adrian Thomson during the Europe 1 Star, 1988. ^^^ Skipper Alan Thomas was towed to Nantucket by US coast-guards with the starboard float taking water.

Rick Tomlinson / Fujicolor skippered by Loïck Peyron during the Europe 1 Star, 1996. He came first in a time of 10d 10h 5m.

Rick Tomlinson / Peter Crowther on his monohull "Galway Blazer" during the Europe 1 Star in 1996. He eventually retired from the race.

Rick Tomlinson / Ketch "Galway Blazer" skippered by Peter Crowther during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^The junk-rigged ketch finished 50th after 32d 21h 42m. He had spent 51 days at sea during the tough 1976 Ostar, a...

Rick Tomlinson / 50ft trimaran "CLM" skippered by Herve Cleris, during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ She finished 9th, ahead of her slightly longer sistership Dupon Duran, 16d 12h 17m.

Rick Tomlinson / Michael Richey in his 25ft Folkboat "Jester" is the oldest competitor at 79 years during the Europe 1 Star in 1996.^^^ He finished last on the water, 10th in Class VI, and 42th position overall, cross...

Rick Tomlinson / Trimaran "Up My Sleeve", skippered by Frenchman Etienne Giroire, during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ She finished 7th overall after 16d 6h 45m.

Rick Tomlinson / Took Took, skippered by Herve Laurent during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ It finished 4th overall after 13d 4h 1m. The foiler trimaran was designed by Marc Lombard and previously sailed by Loic Peyr...

Rick Tomlinson / 40ft monohull "Caribbean" during the Europe 1 Star, 1992. ^^^ "Caribbean" finished in 29th place taking 21d 22h 40m.

Rick Tomlinson / Peter Crowther on his monohull "Galway Blazer" druing the Europe 1 Star, 1996. He eventually retired from the race.

Rick Tomlinson / "Elan-SIFO" skippered by British sailor Alan Wynne Thomas during the Europe 1 Star, 1992. ^^^ The boat finished 10th in Class I, crossing in 18d 19h and 45m.

Rick Tomlinson / Primagaz skippered by Laurent Bourgnon during the Europe 1 Star, June 20, 1996.

Rick Tomlinson / Trimaran "Pierre 1er" during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ It capsized during the 1992 race.

Rick Tomlinson / "Spirit of Ireland" skippered by Irishman Rob Deasey during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ During the race Rob collided with a ship and was forced to abandon. After 57 days adrift the yacht landed on...

Rick Tomlinson / Euskadi Europe-93, skippered by Spanish sailor Jose Ugarte during the Europe 1 Star, 1992.

Rick Tomlinson / 35ft yacht "QII" during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ She was designed by Mike Pocock for British sailor Mary Falk who finished 27th overall in 21d 15h 14m.

Rick Tomlinson / 40ft trimaran "Bagages Superior" skippered by Canadian Mike Birch during the Europe 1 Star in 1992.

Rick Tomlinson / Mike Richey skippers his new Folkboat, "Jester", in his ninth Ostar at the age of 75 1992. ^^^ He arrived in 55th position after 45d 15h 14m. The old Jester, previously belonging to Blondie Haslar, wh...

Rick Tomlinson / Mark Gatehouse who skippered "QAB-3" (Queen Anne's Battery) finished 8th overall and second monohull during the Europe 1 Star, 1992. ^^^ The boat was formerly Credit Agricole II belonging to Philippe...

Rick Tomlinson / 40ft multihull "MTC" skippered by and designed by Nick Bailey during the Europe 1 Star, 1988. ^^^ He finished 12th overall, crossing in 16d 17h 3m.

Rick Tomlinson / Monohull "Whirlpool 2" skippered by Catherine Chabaud during the Europe 1 Star, 1996. ^^^^ She finished in ninth position in Class I, crossing in 17d 6h and 43m

Rick Tomlinson / Laurent Bourgnon's trimaran "Primagaz" during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ She finished 5th after 13d 7h 40m.

Rick Tomlinson / 50ft trimaran "CLM" skippered by Herve Cleris, during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ She finished 9th, ahead of her slightly longer sistership Dupon Duran, 16d 12h 17m.

Rick Tomlinson / "Fila" skippered by Giovanni Soldini during the Europe 1 Star, 2000. ^^^ Soldini finished tenth, crossing in 16d 4h 10m

Rick Tomlinson / "Stella-R" skippered by South African Neal Peterson during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^She finished 45th overall in 28d 17h 54m.

Rick Tomlinson / Fleury Michon XI the Van Peteghem/Lauriot designed trimaran skippered by Philippe Poupon during the Europe 1 Star, 1992.

Rick Tomlinson / 50ft monohull "Misco Computer Supplies", skippered by Giovanni Soldini during the Europe 1 Star, 1992. ^^^ It came into 17th place, 18d 4h 16m.

Rick Tomlinson / "Transient" skippered by Brian Thompson during the Europe 1 Star in 1992.

Rick Tomlinson / Michael Richey in his 25ft Folkboat "Jester" is the oldest competitor at 79 years during the Europe 1 Star in 1996.^^^ He finished last on the water, 10th in Class VI, and 42th position overall, cross...

Rick Tomlinson / Europe 1 Star (OSTAR) 1992. "CACOLAC d"Aquitaine" skippered by Yves Parlier during the Europe 1 Star, 1992. ^^^ She finished 6th overall and winner in the monohull class, finishing in 14d 16h Parlier...

Rick Tomlinson / Atlantic crossing aboard "Zaberdast".

Rick Tomlinson / Atlantic crossing aboard "Zaberdast".

Rick Tomlinson / Atlantic crossing aboard "Zaberdast".

Rick Tomlinson / Mini-transat out training is caught out by a gust of wind on Southampton Water, Solent, UK.

Rick Tomlinson / Florence Arthaud is dwarfed by her massive F1 trimaran "Pierre 1er", Ostar Race. She capsized during the race.

Onne van der Wal / Ellen MacArthur at the navigation station on board "Kingfisher" in which she made the record-breaking voyage from Plymouth, UK to Newport, Rhode Island, USA in 2000.

Rick Tomlinson / 40ft monohull "Mir II" skippered by Ivan Slezic during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ "Mir II" finished 31st in his 40ft monohull after 23d 11h 43m.

Onne van der Wal / Maxi-catamaran "Club Med" practices off New York, USA prior to a transatlantic record attempt.

Rick Tomlinson / Trimaran "Pierre 1er" during the Europe 1 Star in 1992. ^^^ It capsized during the 1992 race.

Rick Tomlinson / 60 ft trimaran "Fujicolor II", skippered by Loic Peyron, finished in 1st position after 11d 1h 35m , Europe 1 Star, 1992. ^^^The 60ft trimaran designed by Nigel Irens was launched in 1990 for Mike Bir...

Rick Tomlinson / 40ft monohull "Protect Our Sealife", skippered by South African Neal Petersen during the Europe 1 Star, 1996. ^^^ He finished 30th overall and 4th in Class IV. Crossing time 25 d 9 h and 33 m.       

Erwan Quéméré / Florence Arthaud, French female sailor ^^^who won the Route du Rhum 1990 aboard her trimaran "Pierre 1er".

Erwan Quéméré / Eric Tabarly's 22 metre "Pen Duick VI", designed by André Mauric for IOR races, including the 1973 Whitbread Round the World Race and a win in the 1976 Transat.

Erwan Quéméré / Florence Arthaud, French female sailor ^^^who won the Route du Rhum 1990 aboard her trimaran "Pierre 1er".

Erwan Quéméré / Florence Arthaud modelling with a bow and arrow for Figaro magazine, at the Hotel Travel Lodge in Suva, Fiji. She is a French sailor and won the Route du Rhum 1990 aboard her trimaran "Pierre 1er".