World News for Students of English

18-11-2024 07:00

On Sunday, 40 sailors began the tenth Vendée Globe, a solo around-the-world race, cheered on by hundreds of thousands of people in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France.

Among them, veteran skipper Jérémie Beyou is competing in his fifth race, hoping to improve upon his previous finishes, including a third-place win in 2016. Beyou’s preparation for this challenging race includes meticulous planning of his 100-kilogram equipment load, which contains food for 80 days and essential tools. He will be sailing a two-year-old boat optimized for speed and stability. This advanced vessel has required a dedicated team of 40 people over several years to ensure it is ready for the demands of the race, simulating potential global routes and adjusting settings to maximize performance.

Reaching top speeds on such a boat feels magic; however, Beyou acknowledges the higher risk of damage. With the Vendée Globe record set at 74 days, he will need to maintain a fast pace if he aims to win.

Difficult words: veteran (an experienced person), meticulous (very careful), optimized (made as good or effective as possible).

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