“The boats will arrive very quickly, we are ready”, the final adjustments before the first arrivals of the Vendée Globe

The countdown has started in Les Sables d’Olonne where preparations are accelerating while waiting for the first skippers of the Vendée Globe. In the lead, Charlie Dalin, who should arrive next Tuesday, well ahead of schedule. Loved ones and organizers are impatient…

Resolve last minute issues, refine details. Less than a week before the potential arrival of Charlie Dalin or Yohann Richomme in Les Sables d’Olonne, the organization of the race is on deck.

Both skippers could cross the finish line of the race 9 days ahead of the previous record held by Armel Le Cleach…

“We are ready! And at the same time, there is always an element of the unknown too, says impatient Hubert Lemonnier, race director of the Vendée Globe 2024. We don’t know exactly what time the winner will cross the finish line. We don’t know exactly how this will play out. So, we’re trying as best we can to sort everything out these days with the organization, with the team.”

The boats will arrive very quickly. We are ready. And at the same time, there is always a part of the unknown too

Hubert Lemonnier

Race Director of the Vendée Globe 2024

A favorite meeting place for Vendée Globe fans, the race broadcast always attracts more spectators. They too, impatient. “We came quickly, because they will arrive soon. And we had the chance to see Charlie Dalin live, it was very good”rejoices this retiree, who will leave with good memories of this tenth edition.

We will also try to be there on Tuesday for the arrival of… we’ll see! I don’t make predictions, may the best win!

An unbearable suspense, including for the skippers’ families. With his eyes glued to the map, the father of Sébastien Simon, third in the provisional ranking this Thursday evening, is patiently waiting for his son…

It’s a bit like them in the end: we are both in a hurry to go home and we would like to stay a little longer… It will take away my worries at the same time because it’s not easy to be the father of a skipper!

Alain Simon

Father of the skipper Sébastien Simon

Sébastien Simon could arrive as early as Friday January 17 in Les Sables-d’Olonne, under the sun, like Charlie Dalin and Yoann Richomme, expected three days earlier.

See the report from Carla Butting, Damien Raveleau and A. Le Grand

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