A sailor, on his boat, conquering the oceans: more than a journey, it is a feat. The National Maritime Museum offers us an immersion in solo races around the world.
On the occasion of the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe, the National Maritime Museum invites us to discover the stages of this legendary sailing race alone, non-stop and without assistance. Through 270 pieces, the exhibition “Solo around the world” lets us experience the intense emotions of this journey in a chronological and scientific approach, following the route of the Vendée Globe. Until January 26, 2025, immerse yourself in an extraordinary epic and navigate between doubts, unforeseen events and magical moments.
The extreme world tour
With its drastic conditions, sailing around the world alone is one of the most impressive sporting feats. It is not for nothing that, in more than thirty years, only one hundred and sixteen men and women have attempted the experiment. There are only eighty-four to have completed the race.
Today, the Vendée Globe lasts almost three months, during which sailors must cover more than 24,000 nautical miles, or 45,000 kilometers. Aboard 18-meter monohull sailboats, you have to deal with various damages and overcome solitude, all in particularly difficult physical and climatic conditions: lack of sleep, raging elements, etc.
Technological revolutions
The rules and the route for sailing around the world alone have evolved since the end of the 19th century, when the first daring people attempted the adventure. Technology has also progressed considerably. Performance has thus been multiplied by two in thirty-five years, in particular thanks to the evolution of materials, which have made the boats much lighter.
Scientific and technical advances are discussed in the exhibition, which also illustrates the fact that, if these advances serve performance, they are also sometimes to the detriment of comfort on board.
Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia) wins the Vendée Globe in 84 days 3 hours
© National Maritime Museum
Sailor's life, according to the oceans
After passing the Sables d'Olonne channel, the route begins at the Bay of Biscay and ends on the way up the Atlantic. The 40e roaring, the 50e howling and the Capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn punctuate the journey, each with its share of difficulties. The return to Les Sables-d'Olonne completes the route.
At each geographical stage, the exhibition addresses a key issue of the race: weather, organization, physical and mental health, management of the competition… The whole is illustrated by unique pieces such as personal loans from the skippers, but also outfits , navigation objects, works of art and video testimonials from navigators. At the end of the exhibition, we see, for example, Armel Le Cléac'h, at the head of the record of only 74 days of navigation during the 2016 – 2017 edition, speaking out.
A dedicated publication and a multitude of events to thrill with the skippers!
The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalog, allowing you to complete the visit and get ever closer to the emotions of a solo race thanks to interviews with navigators, travel stories and unpublished testimonies collected for the occasion.
Some of these legendary skippers will come and share their adventures during three free public masterclasses at the museum! First meeting Thursday November 14 with Franck Cammas, one of the most successful sailors in the history of French sailing.
Another key event in the program: Thursday, November 28, the museum opens its doors late at night until 11 p.m. for a special “Counter-evening” on tomorrow's offshore race. On the program: meetings with professionals from the sector on the sustainable future of ocean racing, artistic performance, test of the Virtual Regatta game, workshop, speaking points and pop-up bar!
Finally, to experience the ocean race on the big screen, a cinema cycle is planned automatically.ur of films linked to the Vendée Globe, followed by meetings with the film teams.
“Solo, around the world” can be found until January 26, 2025, at the National Maritime Museum, in Paris-Trocadéro.
Information on programming and reservations: https://www.musee-marine.fr/nos-musees/paris/expositions-et-evenements/les-expositions/en-solitaire-autour-du-monde/autour-de-lexposition -lonely-around-the-world.html
