At the start it looked like Mike Golding on Ecover 3 was set for the best start, but was OCS and had to turn around and re-start, while Alex Thomson showed great pace off the line in Hugo Boss. It was defending champion Vincent Riou on PRB who got his nose in front first, with Paprec-Virbac (Jean-Pierre Dick) and Sebastien Josse on BT climbing to join him on the charge out to sea. Brian Thompson (Bahrain Team Pindar) was given a four-hour penalty by the international Jury after some of his team were still on board during the start countdown (four minutes before the gun was fired).
It was a tough, physical first night for the 30 strong fleet, facing headwinds of 20-30 knots and 4-6 metre seas, with two boats being forced to returning to port.
With the start line remaining open 10 days after the official start, competitors can cross it until 13:02 (French time) on Wednesday 19th Nov. By the time this went to press, 2 days after the start of the race, 8 entrants had returned or were making their way towards Les Sables d'Olonne for repairs, with the intention to re-start if possible:
* Dominique Wavre, Temenos II: had an electrical problem and returned to Les Sables d'Olonne. He returned to the racecourse late in the evening of Sunday 9th November.
* Bernard Stamm, Cheminees Poujoulat: had a collision with a cargo ship, returned to Les Sables d'Olonne during the night of 9th/10th November. Damage to bowsprit.
* Michel Desjoyeaux, Foncia: electrical and engine problems following a leak from a water ballast tank, expected to arrive in Les Sables d'Olonne during the night 10/11 November.
* Jean- Baptiste Dejeanty, Group Maisoneuve: damage to deck reported during the morning of Monday 10th November. Arrival expected in Les Sables d'Olonne on the morning of 11th November.
* Derek Hatfield, Algimouss Spirit of Canada: electrical problems during the afternoon/evening of Monday 10th November. Expected to return to Les Sables d'Olonne during the morning 11th November.
* Yannick Bestaven, Aquarelle.com: dismasted reported during the evening of Monday 10th November. Arrival expected Les Sables d'Olonne during the night of 11th or 12th November.
* Kito de Pavant, Groupe Bel: dismasted during the evening of Monday 10th November, arrival could be in Les Sables d'Olonne during the night of 11th to 12th November
* Alex Thomson, Hugo Boss: structural problem in the evening of Monday 10th November, arrival predicted in Les Sables d'Olonne during the night of 11th/12th November.
