Sailing: De Bloc's ocean of dreams

Bertrand de Broc led the 16 competitors in the Vendee Globe single-handed round the world race as they left the start at Les Sables d'Olonne yesterday, writes Stuart Alexander. They are hopeful that they may miss the forecast gales in the Bay of Biscay.

In Brighton, the International Sailing Federation's main topic of debate at its annual meeting was the choice of boats to be used at the Sydney Olympics. A decision on an 11th medal group, for women's match racing, is expected to be made by the Olympic Committee on 15 November but the ISAF postponed until the end of January the choice of boat. Finland was selected for the 1999 world youth championships.