Paris:- Saturday, 22. February 1997:- The longest sports story I can remember came to an end Monday when Christophe Auguin, 37, single-hull sailboat-driver par excellence, drove his 'Géodis' across the finish line at Sables-d'Olonne after 'circling' the globe in 105 days, 20 hours, 31 minutes and 23 seconds non-stop and single-handed, to win the 'Vendée-Globe.' This feat set a new record time as well.

The route took the sailors down the Atlantic and then with a loop around Antarctica, back up. Despite being somewhat lost in fog, dodging icebergs and riding heavy seas, TV coverage of the event was almost a daily item on the evening news, and must have cost somebody a tidy packet.

Mr. Auguin won the 'Course du Figaro' in 1986 and twice won the 'BOC Challenge,' in 1991 and 1995. The 'BOC' is also a single-handed round-the-world race, but with some layovers.

The 'Géodis' crossed the finish line at 9:33 on Monday, accompanied by dozens of other boats and overhead helicopters. After shaving and seeing his wife Véronique and his son Erwan and doing some interviews, Mr. Auguin toured some bars in the evening, starting at the Casino de la Plage in Port-Olona, and then went on to Au Galway, the Gab Bar, the Entre-Côtes, and etc. Like a true mariner.

Larry Flynt Poster Gets Judicial Thumbs Up

On Tuesday, an association of Catholics petitioned a high court in Paris to ban the poster 'Larry Flynt' which advertises the movie by Milos Forman, which opened in Paris on Wednesday. Another group had another judge look at it on Wednesday afternoon and the judgement was programmed for Thursday.

Tuesday's Le Parisien had a large photo of part of the poster, but none in the Wednesday edition, although Le Parisien's reviewer gave the film two stars. I looked very carefully through Thursday's edition and found no mention of the judgement, but did see a half-page ad for the film, illustrated with the poster photo.

Friday's paper announced that the judges had decided to permit the poster to continue its public display in Paris, on the grounds that it displayed no cross, no porno and the actor didn't look like Jesus. However, the mayor of Versailles, Etienne Pinte, had already banned the poster under pressure.

During the week, this subject got considerable time on TV-news and Milos Forman was able to talk about the movie. I saw the poster all over the boulevard Montmartre on Wednesday, and expecting that it would be banned, prepared a revised version, shown here with the original. (This poster would not have been a candidate for Metropole's poster page because it is reserved for French and European posters.)

The Short and Long of it in France

Although there are a couple of retailers in Paris who advertise large sizes for tall people - there are few very fat people in France - there are distinct disadvantages to being extra-tall. Shoes are too small, beds are too short, and the pedals in cars are too close.

Le Parisien says that the average height of the French has leaped six centimetres in 40 years. For men aged 20 to 29, this has meant going from an average of 170 cm tall in 1950 to 176 cm today. Ladies have gained four centimetres in the same time and now average 164 cms.Continued on page 2...