After more than three days at sea, none of the 40 skippers registered for the 10e Vendée Globe has not yet reported any major damage on board its sailboat. A rarity which can be explained as much by the mild weather as by the good preparation of the teams involved.
Since the very first edition of the solo round-the-world race in 1989, abandonments and major breakages frequently occur in the first days of the journey, as the physical and technological challenge facing the bows is great.
« It’s very complicated for sailors to go from the village fair to solitary », notes the specialized journalist Didier Ravon, author of a well-documented book, “The Vendée Globe: 35 years of adventure” (Éditions Gallimard Loisirs 2024).
In 1992, a gale mistreated the fleet in the heart of the Bay of Biscay. The Briton Nigel Burgess drowned while Loïck Peyron was forced to throw in the towel after noticing delamination – crumbling of the hull which could cause a leak – on his boat.
This year, with the exception of minor damage – cylinder problem for Boris Herrmann, small leak for Thomas Ruyant… – and the loss during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday of a mainsail for Clarisse Crémer, everything is going well for the skippers.
Of the 200 attempts to complete the world tour since the creation of the race, 86 have failed.
« This doesn’t really surprise me, the weather was very favorable, when you set off with the wind in your butt, it’s easier for everyone because the boats suffer less », explains Didier Ravon.
Since leaving Les Sables-d’Olonne this Sunday, November 10, the sailors have benefited from very mild weather with almost exclusively downwind sailing, pushing them quietly along the North Atlantic. “ If they had left with a strong gale in the Bay of Biscay and with upwind tacks, they would have had a greater chance of taking masts on their heads. », Estimates Didier Ravon.
Like in 2008, where Kito de Pavant, Yannick Bestaven and Marc Thiercelin all three dismasted in the same place, just two days after the gun went off. The future winner Michel Desjoyeaux returned to Les Sables-d’Olonne to leave 48 hours later.
Maxime Sorel and Jingkun Xu injured
The only downside to this “dream start” are physical problems reported by several sailors who hope to be able to heal over time: Maxime Sorel and Jingkun Xu both have to deal with an ankle injury. “ Traumatology becomes central with these new boats: they are so powerful, the shocks are more violent, you cannot navigate in the gas without risking injury. », says the reporter.
If the weather helped the fleet to “withstand the shock” of the start, the preparation of the teams has also never been so thorough before a Vendée Globe, which also contributed to this faultless performance.
All entrants had to take part in a grueling qualifying course to get on the line, with three solo transatlantic races in two years. “ It was essential in order to feel good on the boat, test its limits, know which sails to use in which conditions. », explains Violette Dorange, youngest of the starters at only 23 years old.
A Vendée Globe without any abandonment would be unheard of. Of the 200 attempts to complete the world tour since the creation of the race, 86 have failed.
Swiss
