Pip Hare to make Poole Harbour her home once again

Poole Harbour Commissioners (PHC) has proudly announced that it has renewed its partnership with British Vendée Globe sailor Pip Hare.

Poole Harbour is to become Hare’s home port once again as she prepares to sail single-handed, non-stop around the world as a competitor in the 2024 Vendée Globe.

“Poole Harbour is an incredible base for me, I’m thrilled that that PHC are once again offering me a home port to run my campaign from,” says Hare.

“It has meant such a lot to me to have the support of the local community and to be able to sail in an incredible area with great access to the English Channel.

“PHC have been supportive of me since I first started my campaign in 2019 and I’m really happy to be able to continue this relationship into the future.”

In 2021 Hare became one of only eight women in the world to ever complete the Vendée Globe. She finished in 19th place overall, despite having one of the oldest boats in the fleet.

For 2024, however (as reported by Marine Industry News) she has secured a much newer generation IMOCA, the 2016 foiling Verdier/VPLP model. It was raced as Bureau Vallée II by Louis Burton in 2020 /21 to 3rd overall.

“We are incredibly proud to be supporting Pip once again. We gave her a berth for her 2020 campaign and are honoured that she has chosen to stay with us for the next leg of her journey,” says Kerrie Gray, Poole Harbour Commissioners marinas manager.

“Poole’s unique location has everything a sailor could possibly need, it’s full of natural beauty, it’s sheltered and has a diverse range of marina facilities. There is also a comprehensive range of local businesses.

“It was a joy to see Pip’s last yacht in the marina, but her newer IMOCA takes it to a whole new level. We’ve yet to have a foiling boat of that size in the harbour let alone the marina, I cannot wait to welcome Pip and her new yacht back to Poole this Summer.”

Hare started her Vendée Globe journey back in 2020, with very little budget and no title sponsor. But just months before the race, American Software company Medallia stepped in.

“Medallia and I have had a fantastic partnership over the last year – they made a huge difference to my 2020/21 Vendée Globe race when they joined my campaign just five months before the start of the race,” says Hare.

“So, having them with me now, at the very start of my 2024 campaign is brilliant – their support has given me the chance to secure the boat that will take me around the world in about three years’ time.

“I’m now determined to spend those years training, upgrading and finessing and I can’t wait to see what Medallia and I will achieve together in the lead up to the next Vendée.”