Here are a few photos from today showing the beach and harbour……………………

******We still have availability for May half term, if you interested in an early season break and want some sunshine! You can also arrive and leave any day of the week to fit in with the cheaper ferries!******

We are taking bookings for Summer 2013.

Give us a call on 0044 1942 602104 or get in touch by email:

info@thomasjamesholidays.co.uk

La Rochelle is only an hour’s drive from Camping L’Oceano D’Or and Jard Sur Mer and the city makes for a nice day out with plenty to see and do as well as getting to see the red bull divers in action over the weekend. La Rochelle used to be one of the largest sea ports on the French Atlantic coast and has the largest marina for pleasure boats in Europe.

The first ever red bull high diving competition was held in La Rochelle harbour in 2009, and the competition returned again in 2011 where it was won by British contestant Gary Hunt. The red bull diving championship for the last three years has been won overall by Gary Hunt!

The diving platform for the competition is built onto the Saint Nicolas Tower overlooking the harbour, at a height of 27 metres. The divers perform four dives each which are scored by five judges with the total score of all dives performed added together to determine the overall winner of the event.

Saint Nicolas Tower along with the Tour de la Chaine Tower was used to protect La Rochelle inner harbour from any attack from the sea, and a chain used to be strung between the two towers crossing the harbour entrance every night to stop any unwanted invasions. Both towers are still open to the public and there is a daily guided tour taking you around the towers.

We are taking bookings for Summer 2013.

Give us a call on 0044 1942 602104 or get in touch by email to ensure you can visit La Rochelle and watch the Red Bull divers, we also currently have a special offer for the May holidays!!

info@thomasjamesholidays.co.uk

We are taking bookings for Summer 2013.

Give us a call on 0044 1942 602104 or get in touch by email:

info@thomasjamesholidays.co.uk

Off the twenty skippers that set off on the 10th November, 2012 only eleven remain in the fleet (nine have finished and the last two are due in this weekend). The 2012/2013 Vendee Globe is the closest race in the twenty four years that it has been taking place, with only three hours separating first and second place which is pretty impressive considering the is race is over 24,000 nautical miles (27,600 miles).

The race overall was won by a French man Francois Gabart (French sailors have won every Vendee Globe!) who finished the race in his Macif yacht on the Sunday 27th January in a record time of 78 days, 2 hours and 16 minutes (setting a new world record for the fastest solo world circumnavigation in a monohull) and in doing so became the youngest winner of the Vendee Globe.

Alex Thomson in his impressive Hugo Boss boat was the most successful British entrant, this was his third attempt at the Vendee Globe and he arrived back into Les Sables d’Olonne on the 30th January completing the race 80 days, 19hrs and 23 mins.

British entrant Mike Goulding took sixth place and in doing so became the first skipper in the history of the Vendee Globe to finish three times. He arrived back into Les Sables d’Olonne on the 6th February having completed the Vendee Globe in 88 days, 6 hours and 36 minutes.

The third British competitor Sam Davies sadly had to retire from the race on day five after her Saveol yacht was demasted.

Just two more yachts are still at sea racing and both are due back this weekend or the start of next week. All the Vendee Globe competitors will return to Les Sables D’Olonne for the prize giving ceremony. The ceremony takes place on the 11th May, 2013 on the Les Sables
Grand Plage and the Vendee Globe 2012-2013 is officially brought to a close with a big firework display. Well worth a visit if you are in the area!

We are taking bookings for summer 2013. Book now to ensure you can enjoy the Vendee Globe closing ceremony! Give us a call on 01942 602104 or get in touch by email: info@thomasjamesholidays.co.uk

We are taking bookings for summer 2013.  Book now to ensure you can visit the Cinescenie one evening! Give us a call on 01942 602104 or get in touch by email: info@thomasjamesholidays.co.uk

]]> http://www.thomasjamesholidays.co.uk/2012/12/cinescenie-puy-du-fouvideo/feed/ 0 http://www.thomasjamesholidays.co.uk/2012/12/merry-christmas-and-a-happy-new-year-2/ http://www.thomasjamesholidays.co.uk/2012/12/merry-christmas-and-a-happy-new-year-2/#comments Wed, 26 Dec 2012 14:49:42 +0000 admin http://www.thomasjamesholidays.co.uk/?p=447

 

We are taking bookings for Summer 2013.

Give us a call on 0044 1942 602104 or get in touch by email:

info@thomasjamesholidays.co.uk

 

 

 

]]>

The Vendee Globe is a round the world single handed yacht race. The race has to be sailed non-stop by the skippers without any outside assistance. The race is open to 60 foot monohull yachts and is sailed from west to east passing the ‘Cape of Good Hope’, ‘Cape Leeuwin’ and the ‘Cape Horn’.

Over the years a lot of yachts have been designed and built specifically for the Vendee Globe meaning they all look very impressive both inside and out when you see them up close and when they are on the water!

Although the race was founded in 1989 by Frenchman Philippe Jeantot (apparently after a bet between himself and two friends on who could sail around the world the fastest without assistance!), it only really first appeared in the English press when Tony Bullimore capsized during the 1996 Vendee Globe. It featured again more heavily and really brought the Vendee Globe to the attention of the UK when Ellen MacArthur took part in the 2000 Vendee Globe coming second overall in the race at the age of 24. She completed the race in 94 days only a day behind the overall winner.

The race is run every four years, starting and finishing from Les Sables D’Olonne (just up the road from Camping L’Oceano D’Or).  The 2012 race sets off from Les Sables on the 10^th November and twenty boats are registered to take part. The twenty 2012 skippers are pictured below:

A village is built around Port Olona to accommodate the Race with the yachts moored alongside, allowing spectators to get up close and see the boats for themselves in the weeks leading up to the race.

There are three English competitors taking part in the 2012 Vendee Globe. Samantha Davies (came second in the 2008 Vendee Globe) , Mike Golding (came third in the 2004 Vendee Globe) and Alex Thompson (pictured below in his suit with his Vendee Globe boat Hugo Boss).

We are taking bookings for Summer 2013. 

Give us a call on 0044 1942 602104 or get in touch by email:

info@thomasjamesholidays.co.uk

These photographs were taken last Monday evening and show the view from the newly created ‘Observation Point’ and also show the fantastic sunsets you can get at Le Marais.

The Observation Point is located within a five minute easy drive of Camping L’Oceano D’Or or for the more energetic a fifteen minute cycle ride. If you choose to cycle you can carry on after the observatory on a 5km signposted bike circuit through Le Marais that brings you back to the campsite.

Thanks to everyone who holidayed with us this year, we enjoyed meeting you all and catching up with guests from previous years.

Thomas James Holidays Team

We are now taking bookings for Summer 2013. 

Give us a call on 0044 1942 602104 or get in touch by email:

info@thomasjamesholidays.co.uk