The fundamental values of the Vendée Globe remain unchanged for the 2028 edition. The skippers will have to complete a solo circumnavigation of the world, without stopover and without assistance, crossing the legendary Capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn. The number of competitors is once again limited to 40, to guarantee optimal safety and maintain the elite spirit of this legendary race.
All boats must meet IMOCA standards and incorporate sustainability measures. Racing monohulls will be able to participate again, as long as they have a measurement certificate dating after January 1, 2005, with the aim of extending their lifespan and limiting resource consumption.
A reinforced commitment to the environment
To contribute to the preservation of the oceans, the Vendée Globe places emphasis on the collection of scientific data. UNESCO has selected oceanographic measuring instruments which will gradually equip all participating boats.
For this 2024 edition, the objective of equipping 50% of the fleet has been achieved: 25 skippers will take on board measuring instruments on November 10. Furthermore, the boats set themselves the objective of renouncing the use of fossil fuels for the production of electricity, except for safety needs. This work, carried out with the IMOCA class, aims to establish a standard of sustainable energy operation for future editions.
Two major conditions for qualification for the 2028 Vendée Globe
In order to participate in the Vendée Globe 2028, skippers will have to meet two qualification criteria. First, they will have to complete a solo race classified grade 2 in the IMOCA Globe Series Championship, completing the event in a time less than or equal to that of the winner increased by 50%.
In addition, each participation in the races of this championship will allow skippers to score points, counted in the overall ranking of the IMOCA Championship until June 30, 2028.
The Vendée Globe and The Ocean Race are grade 1, while events like the Route du Rhum, the New York Vendée Les Sables d'Olonne and the Vendée Arctic Les Sables d'Olonne are grade 2.
The ranking takes into account the importance of each race, offering a scale weighted according to their difficulty and their demands.
Increased flexibility for skippers
The new regulation introduces welcome flexibility. At the end of the four-year cycle, only the best performances of the skippers will be retained: their three worst results will be excluded from the final calculation, in order to provide room for adaptation in the face of unforeseen events.
This rule is particularly favorable for skippers having to deal with injuries, personal events or wishing to carry out international public relations, without compromising their qualification.
Alain Leboeuf, president of the Vendée Globe and the Vendée Departmental Council, underlines: “It is the result of consultation work with all stakeholders. It is important to us that the sporting aspect is valued while integrating the hazards that each skipper encounters. The diversity committee that we set up played its full part in this work, as did the main principles proposed by the IMOCA class. »
“Wild Cards”: a strategic joker
For this 2028 edition, three special invitations, or “wild cards”, will be awarded to skippers at the discretion of the organizer.
These invitations will make it possible to expand the field by integrating promising projects or talents which would not have succeeded in qualifying according to the standard criteria. The Vendée Globe thus affirms its desire to combine sporting excellence and openness, by offering a place to sailors whose journey can inspire and enrich the race.
In brief: the “qualifying” rules for 2028
- Participate and complete a major solo race of the IMOCA Globe Series Championship, respecting a racing time less than 150% of the time of the first.
- Rank among the 37 best skippers of the IMOCA Globe Series Championship.
- Trois Wild Cards will be distributed for non-qualified skippers.
With these new qualification rules, the Vendée Globe 2028 strengthens its position as a legendary race while opening up to new challenges and integrating the diversity of life paths. The road to the start begins on November 10, 2024, for this first major meeting which has already registered the skippers in tomorrow's race.
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