French skipper Francois Gabart takes the start on his monohull “Macif” of the 7th edition of the Vendee Globe, the solo non-stop round-the-world yacht race in Les Sables d’Olonne, western France, on November 10, 2012. 20 skippers on board monohulls will compete in this event, held every four years. AFP PHOTO FRED TANNEAU (Photo credit should read FRED TANNEAU/AFP/Getty Images)