Vendée Globe 2024. Philippe Jeantot, father of the Everest of the Seas, returning to Les Sables d'Olonne after 21 years of absence

For the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, its founder Philippe Jeantot was present at the inauguration, by the mayor of Les Sables d'Olonne, of a quay in his name. The opportunity for him to return to the legendary sailing race, around the world, alone.

After moving to Thailand, he decided to return to the spotlight. At 72, Philippe Jeantot is back in Les Sables d'Olonne.

A return to the forefront of the founder of the Vendée Globe, possible in particular thanks to the bottle in the sea, sent by the mayor of Les Sables, Yannick Moreau, at the start of the year. ” CThat’s what convinced me to come back. Me, I had no intention of one day returning to Les Sables d'Olonne, confides Philippe Jeantot. But this letter moved me, touched me and I agreed to come back “.

In 1989, Philippe Jeantot decided, with three sailor friends, to create the race then called Globe Challenge, which would become the Vendée Globe. “We took on the challenge of traveling around the world in the footsteps of Bernard Moitessier, he says. He was a bit like our guru in quotes.“A sailing race, around the world, alone, which became, from the first edition, a popular event. Thirty-five years later, when he strolled on the pontoons, the father of the legendary world tour was blown away ” In 40 years, the technological evolution of boats is exponential, he confides. When we did 260 mile days, we were super happy. Today a modern Imoca does 260 miles in a day, you feel like you're not moving forward.”

In December 2002, the company Sail Com, organizer of the race, whose manager is Philippe Jeantot, was placed in liquidation. THE April 10, 2003, the organizer of the Vendée Globe is indicted. Several trials and convictions followed for tax fraud and misuse of corporate assets between 2003 and 2007, before completely disappearing from the radar.

In 2016, he was found in Thailand, where he lived on his boat. He then gave an exclusive interview to the monthly Voiles et voiliers, in which he explained that he had trusted the wrong people, before adding that he had “remorse, but no regrets“. Today, at a press conference, he prefers to make a clean sweep of the past. ” It's behind me, I don't want to talk about it anymore “.

Back in Les Sables d'Olonne, 21 years later, Philippe Jeantot will be at sea on November 10, at the start of this 10th edition of the Vendée Globe.

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