Published on 10/11/2024 13:09
Reading time: 2min – video: 2min
The big start of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe is given
It was at 1:02 p.m., as planned, that the grand start of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025, tenth of the name, was given. A total of 40 skippers, on IMOCAs with or without foils, were let go by the race management. A solo, non-stop and unassisted world tour opens up to them.
The 40 skippers entered set off on their solo round-the-world trip, which the winner should complete before the end of January.
They took off. The 40 skippers, moored for almost a month in Sables-d'Olonne (Vendée), took the start of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, at a very leisurely pace, due to lack of wind, on Sunday November 10, at 1:02 p.m. Never before has this solo, unassisted and non-stop sailing round the world edition had so many sailors at the start (40) and so many women (6).
From dawn, a popular party accompanied the skippers as they returned from the channel, one by one, to the starting line. Hundreds of thousands of spectators gathered on the quays and pontoons of the port to say goodbye to the sailors. After a 2020 edition marked by Covid-19, the skippers savored this “communion with the public. We know why we are leaving. It's exceptional and it's beautiful for sailing, for offshore racing.” marveled Yannick Bestaven, winner of the last edition, to Radio France.
Faced with this “Everest of the Seas”, there are many contenders for victory, starting with Charlie Dalin. The skipper of Macif, second in the last Vendée Globe, has one of the fastest boats in the fleet and has had a string of race victories over the last three years. The title holder, Yannick Bestaven is also one of the contenders to succeed him aboard his high-performance Imoca Maître Coq V. Sixth in the last edition, the Northerner Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) has consolidated his experience by winning the Transat Jacques Vabre twice (2021, 2023) and the Route du Rhum 2022. Jérémie Beyou (Charal) wears the outsider hat and could create a surprise.
