As a preamble
November 10, 2024 saw the start of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe in Les Sables-d'Olonne, the legendary race that is a veritable "Everest of the seas" and a must for lovers of maritime challenges and nautical adventure. To date, the Vendée Globe is the only single-handed, non-stop, unassisted round-the-world sailing race. Hence the media frenzy and worldwide public enthusiasm.
In 1968, the Golden Globe pioneered the first non-stop, solo circumnavigation of the globe, rounding all three capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn). Of the nine sailors who set off, Britain's Robin Knox-Johnston was the only one to achieve the feat of returning to Falmouth after 313 days at sea.
Some 20 years later, it was navigator Philippe Jeantot who, after his double victory in the BOC Challenge (the solo round-the-world race with stopovers), launched the idea of a new round-the-world race, again solo but this time non-stop! The Globe Challenge was born... and a few years later became the Vendée Globe.
Heroes, dramas...
On November 26, 1989, 13 sailors took the start of this first edition of the Vendée Globe, which lasted over three months. They were only 7 to return to Les Sables-d'Olonne. And it was Titouan Lamazou who was the first to cross the finish line, 109 days and 24,000 miles later, at the helm ofÉcureuil d'Aquitaine II, a state-of-the-art Bouvet-Petit design. Only 3h30 after him arrived Loïck Peyron, who had diverted to save his friend Philippe Poupon, whose ketch (Fleury Michon) had gone on the side.
The second edition (1992-1993) was the one of the first dramas, with the damage of Loïck Peyron and Yves Parlier, but especially the death of the British sailor Nigel Burgess. This second edition had a bittersweet taste and was finally won by Alain Gautier on Bagages Superior.
Four years later, in 1996, fifteen competitors took the start. Among the favorites were Christophe Auguin from Normandy, two-time winner of the BOC Challenge, his Quebec friend Gerry Roufs, and Yves Parlier from Aquitaine, who arrived at the helm of a futuristic 60-foot boat, the first monohull built in carbon and equipped with a pivoting wing mast. Two women, Isabelle Autissier and Catherine Chabaud, are taking part in the festivities, adding a feminine presence to the many candidates for the places of honor, such as Eric Dumont or the repeat offender Bertrand de Broc.
... and records
Only one sailor has ever won the Vendée Globe twice: Michel Desjoyeaux, in 2001 and 2009. A real feat, and a tour de force when you consider the challenges faced by all the sailors involved!
In 2013, young François Gabart won the race in 78 days. But the event record is held by Armel Le Cléac'h (on Banque Populaire), the winner of the 2017 edition in 74 days, 3 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds (i.e. 3 days 22 hours and 41 minutes less than François Gabart in 2013). His average speed over the theoretical 24,500-mile course is 13.77 knots. Twice2nd in the Vendée Globe 2008 and 2012 editions, this Breton wins the coveted grail!
The 2020 edition was won by Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq IV), who arrived on January 28, 2021 after 80 days, 3 hours, 44 minutes and 46 seconds of racing. The skipper benefited from compensation time for the rescue of Kevin Escoffier. Charlie Dalin arrived on January 27 after 80 days, 6 hours, 15 minutes and 47 seconds.
A record 10th edition
For this 10th edition, 40 skippers were registered (a record!). Sailors from all 4 corners of the globe. Among the skippers were a number of repeat participants, including our very own Jean Le Cam, whose 6th appearance in the event. Arnaud Boissières and Jérémie Beyou were also taking part for the5th time. Six women also took part, including Samantha Davies for her4th appearance and the youngest, 23-year-old Violette Dorange from Charente.
The 2024 prize list
This 10th edition was one for the record books, as Charlie Dalin on his boat Macif Santé Prévoyance, won the Vendée Globe in just 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds! Yoann Richomme, from Lorient, came second after 65 days at sea. In third place was Sébastien Simon (67 days, 12 hours and 25 minutes of racing). This edition was also a record for the number of spectators (2.45 million) and subscribers to the Vendée Globe social networks (1.6 million). Justine Mettraux (Teamwork - Team Snef ) achieved the best female performance (76 days). Jingkun Xu (Singchain Team Haikou) became the1st Chinese and 100th Vendée Globe finisher. As for Violette on her boat (Devenir), the youngest of the event, she drew an incredible response from the public, with a fine 25th place for her first participation.
The organization
For each edition, an exceptional set-up is put in place for the Vendée Globe in Les Sables-d'Olonne, with Race HQ in Paris, a website updated in real time and international media coverage. Every 4 years, the meeting point is given to push back the limits, human and technical. And for those who want to take part in the race from the comfort of their living room, Virtual Regatta is the solution to live an adventure in the calm and dry!
The course
The Vendée Globe consists of sailing around the world, from west to east, via the three great capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn. A long descent of the Atlantic Ocean, followed by the perilous crossing of the South Seas with the Indian Ocean and its crossed seas, then the Pacific Ocean punctuate this course worthy of a maritime adventure novel.
The principle
A single-handed round-the-world race, without stopovers and without assistance: these three parameters remain the original and unchanged essence of the Vendée Globe. And they are at the origin of the mythical character of this race, where the sailor, man or woman, finds himself or herself alone in the face of the elements, sometimes calm, sometimes wild.
It is only when rescuing a colleague in distress that the skippers are allowed to break their solitude. But the rescued skipper is eliminated from the race. Life as a skipper in the Vendée Globe is too hard! The only technical stopover that could really be considered for a competitor would be to return to Les Sables-d'Olonne to repair the damage, within a maximum of 10 days after the start, and to set off again. No assistance. And especially not a weather routing! The sailor must therefore make all his calculations alone, using the high-tech equipment available on the boat. In addition to thinking alone about the course, he must be able to repair damage or treat himself in case of injury (the sailor is only entitled to remote assistance from the race doctor). Of course, it is strictly forbidden to dock another boat or to bring a third person on board. However, sailors are allowed to consult the boat's architect or their technical team to find out the best way to carry out a possible repair.
Sources: www.vendeeglobe.org
