The start of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, a famous solo round-the-world race without stopover and without assistance, was given on Sunday off the coast of Les Sables-d’Olonne. After being cheered by a dense crowd as they exited the channel, the 40 skippers set off in a light wind (4 to 7 knots on average) for a journey around the planet which is expected to last more than two months. The record for the event has been held since 2017 by Frenchman Armel Le Cléac’h (74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 36 seconds).
In the morning, the sailors shared their feelings a few hours before departure. “I’m excited to see the surprises this world tour has in store for us,” Briton Samantha Davies told AFP. “It’s the happiest day of my life,” said Frenchman Guirec Soudée. You have before you a happy man, who will find his element again. I have sea water running through my veins.”
For the first time in history, three Swiss are at the start of this legendary journey. “We are going to sail around our planet. We’re going to have to be good, underlined the Genevan Alan Roura in a video broadcast on go!”, joked the one who took 12th place in 2017.
“It’s a first for me, it’s certain that there is an element of unknown,” explained Justine Mettraux on RTS. Over 80 days, it’s impossible for everything to work well all the time. It is certain that there will be times when you will have to find solutions, show resilience, get out of your comfort zone. That’s what makes the race interesting.”
Although she is participating in the Vendée Globe for the first time, the Swiss woman can have great ambitions. “It’s good to finish it already. The ranking will be a bonus,” claimed the Geneva native, who worked a lot on the technical aspects and knowledge of the boat.
For his part, Zurich resident Oliver Heer was seen, three hours before departure, entering the pontoon with his dog. “I’m very nervous, but also very excited,” he said in a video posted to Instagram. He also thanked the many supporters present at the start.
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