Images from the Vendee Globe start

7:22 PM Sun 9 Nov 2008 GMT

'2008 VENDEE GLOBE Start' Th.Martinez &copy

Thierry Martinez images of 2008 Vendee Globe start in Les Sables d'olonne, France today.

At the start Mike Golding on Ecover 3 was was called OCS and returned. Algimouss was the 1st Open 60 over the start line.

Vincent Riou on PRB took an early lead, with Dee Caffari on Aviva chasing. Seb Josse's BT, Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss, and J?r?mie Beyou's Delta Dore were all in the front row of the main pack.

More images at ThMartinez/Sea&Co www.thmartinez.com

LES SABLES D'OLONNE - FRANCE . 9 November 2008 . Vendee Globe start - Th.Martinez &copy

2008 VENDEE GLOBE. Start. Seb Josse (FRA) at the helm of 'BT'. - Vendee Globe 2008-09 - Th.Martinez &copy

2008 VENDEE GLOBE. Start. Seb Josse (FRA) on 'BT'.leading the fleet after the start, ahead of 'PRB' Vincent Riou (FRA) and 'Paprec-Virbac' Jean -Pierre Dick (FRA) - Vendee Globe 2008-09 - Th.Martinez &copy