Batch. Rocamadour at the start of the 2024 Vendée Globe skippers

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The departure of Vendée Globe 2024it's this Sunday, November 10 at 1:02 p.m., at Sables-d'Olonne. 40 skippers are in the running, a record. A look back at the religious ceremonies which preceded this global event, with the participation of a delegation from Sanctuary of Rocamadourled by the Rector, the Father Florent Millet.

“We are experiencing very rich moments with magnificent encounters, both with the skippers and with the public, who have the sight of a priest on the pontoons blessing the boats and skippers are very touched, with many questions. Why Notre Dame de Rocamadour? Many of those who pass by the priest ask for blessings for them too,” these are the reactions of the members of the delegation accompanying Father Florent Millet, rector of the sanctuary of Rocamadour, in Les Sables-d’Olonne. A trip which takes place on the occasion of the start of the Vendée Globe, the 10^e edition, with 40 skippers.

Blessings at the start of the Vendée Globe

Tuesday evening, November 8, the religious ceremonies began with the skippers' mass, under the presidency of Mgr Jean-Christophe Lagleize, surrounded by Father Florent Millet, Father Antoine Nouwavi, priest of the Sainte Marie parish and in the presence of Yannick Moreau mayor of Sables d’Olonne, Alain Leboeuf president of the Vendée Departmental Council…

To continue her mission as protector of sailors and skippers, the Virgin Our Lady of Rocamadour was on the pontoons these days at the Vendée Globe Village. Indeed, Father Florent Millet went to meet the skippers with his delegation. He went around to each of the skippers to offer a blessing for the Imoca (monohull sailboats measuring 60 feet, or 18.28 meters), the skipper and his team. While some preferred to skip their turn this time, others had already blessed their boat and did not wish to bless it again. On the other hand, 9 of the 40 skippers welcomed this blessing.

For Fabrice Amedeo (former journalist from Le Figaro who became a professional skipper), it was with great heart and enthusiasm that he welcomed this blessing. It was the opportunity for him to put his new boat, recently purchased on the second-hand market, and himself, under the protection of ND de Rocamadour after his perilous adventure during the Route du Rhum 2022. Remember his boat had burned at sea forcing him to observe the scene from his rescue boat.

Warm contacts with the skippers

Romain Attanesio (offshore racing skipper from the Hautes Alpes) and Thomas Ruyant (a great transatlantic specialist) also received the blessing, being involved, as did the Hungarian skipper Szabolcs Weöres (Hungarian professional sailor).

“She is my fuel for prayer.”

The delegation was apparently touched during the blessing of the Imoca of Guirec Soudée (a Breton who embarked on a sailing trip around the world with only a little red hen, Monique) and Éric Bellion for company. (Navigator, writer, director and TV columnist). If the first spoke enthusiastically about his company with a chicken that he had taken on board during his last round the world trip, the second, like all blessed skippers, passed on the small statue of the black virgin which was given to him to his mother, “It is she who is my fuel for prayer,” he confided.

Concerning the Italian skipper, Giancarlo Pedote (winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 in Ocean Fifty, twice elected sailor of the year in Italy), he himself called out to the Padre passing on the pontoon to ask for his blessing and that of his boat. His teams were also blessed and he showed that the statue was now stuck on his card table.

Joy also of the blessing for Clarisse Crémer (HEC graduate and professional sailor practicing solo offshore racing) and Tanguy Le Turquais (husband of Clarisse Crémer and father of a little 2-year-old Matilda), declaring to have been very touched of the blessing received in the presence of their entire family.

Finally, some in a hurry still accepted a small sports car from Notre Dame de Rocamadour: Louis Burton (navigator and businessman), Louis Duc (first participation in the Vendée Globe), Olivier Heer (specialized in solo races) .

Note that Benjamin Ferré (Breton sailor and entrepreneur) accepted the sportelle with enthusiasm, pointing out that he had already received several blessings from his boat and that he had taken on board a quantity of medals and blanks, transmitted for its protection.

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