Italian skipper Simone Bianchetti is seen at Les Sables D'Olonne harbour on France's atlantic coast November 03 2000. Bianchetti is one of the 24 skippers taking part in the 4th edition of the Vendee Globe solo round-the-world sailing race a non-stop 25,000 miles race which start on November 5th and lasts at least three months.

CP/AA