Sunday November 10 at midday, 40 skippers will start the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe from Les Sables-d'Olonne. Competitors will have to complete a solo circumnavigation, without assistance, to return to the starting point in Vendée.
The skippers are preparing for their solo round-the-world trip. This Sunday, the start of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe will be given off the coast of Les Sables-d'Olonne. The competitors will thus set out for more than two months at sea, non-stop and without assistance.
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- When will the departure be given?
On November 8, 2020, in the middle of the Covid period, the start of the Vendée Globe was given in the silence of confinement. “After eight years of waiting, the public’s enthusiasm is palpable,” said race president Alain Leboeuf. Since the opening of the village linked to the event on October 18, attendance figures have increased compared to 2016.
Sunday November 10, the public should therefore be very numerous in Les Sables-d'Olonne to witness the departure of the participants. From 8 a.m., the boats will leave the pontoon one by one, every three minutes. The start will be given at sea at 1:02 p.m.
- How many participants are there?
There will be 40 of them, i.e. 34 men and 6 women, to start this Vendée Globe, a record. During the last edition in 2020, 33 skippers (27 men and 6 women) tried their luck. 25 of them managed to successfully circumnavigate the world, for Yannick Bestaven's victory in 80 days, 3 hours and 44 minutes. Ari Huusela, the last, completed the race in 116 days and 18 hours 15 minutes.
The only former winner at the start, Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq) will be one of the main favorites for his own succession. If he wins, he would become the first skipper to achieve the double over two editions. Michel Desjoyeaux is the only one to have already won the Vendée Globe twice, but in 2000-2001 then in 2008-2009. Several competitors seem to have the means to win as well: Jérémie Beyou (Charal), Charlie Dalin (Macif), Boris Herrmann (Malizia-Seaexplorer), Nicolas Lunven (Holcim-PRB), Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) or Thomas Ruyant (Vulnerable) ,
The best historical female performance in this mixed race remains that of Ellen MacArthur, who took second place in 2000-2001. Samantha Davies (Initiatives-Coeur) and Justine Mettraux (Teamwork-Team SNEF) will have great ambitions this year. Clarisse Crémer (L'Occitane de Provence), 12th and first woman in 2021, will also be there.
- Which route will the skippers take?
The route for this 10th Vendée Globe remains unchanged, as usual, with 45,000 kilometers on the program if all goes well. It will be necessary to start by crossing the Bay of Biscay to begin the descent of the Atlantic, with the passage of the Doldrums and the circumvention of the Saint Helena anticyclone.
Three capes must be crossed during the Vendée Globe, with that of Bonne-Espérance first, to enter the Indian Ocean. Cape Leeuwin, in Australia, then Cape Horn, with a view to sailing up the Atlantic Ocean, will also be passed by the sailors. The finish will be in Les Sables-d'Olonne. Boats will also have to avoid certain biodiversity protection zones.
- Can the record be broken?
Winner of the Vendée Globe in 2016-2017, Armel Le Cléac'h still holds the record for the event in 74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds. Four years ago, the competitors had to pay for bad weather conditions. A contender for victory, Charlie Dalin thinks it is possible to get closer to 70 days of racing, even if he does not see the record as “a goal”.
On the women's side, the record belongs to Clarisse Crémer, in 87 days, 2 hours, 24 minutes and 25 seconds. Still present this year, she believes that her brand could be beaten.
- Are all boats the same?
All skippers board an Imoca type boat, the 18.28 meter long monohull category. As the race takes place without assistance, participants must repair any technical problems encountered on board by themselves. They have ten days to return to Les Sables-d'Olonne in the event of a problem from the start.
All skippers must therefore also navigate without any assistance. They must therefore manage weather data to move forward as quickly as possible. Small revolution, however, this year: most of the sailboats will be equipped with the Starlink system, from SpaceX, which provides high-speed internet access via satellite to the least well-served areas. The connection will also allow you to correspond with loved ones.
