The tenth edition will begin on Sunday November 10, 2024 in Les Sables-d'Olonne. The sailing race is done alone, without stopovers and without assistance, which makes it particularly dangerous. But what do those who arrive at the end of 45,000 kilometers gain?
Next Sunday the start of the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe will take place. HAS 13h02 farting, the skippers will leave from Les Sables-d'Olonne heading to the other side of the world.
The race is considered one of the most dangerous in the world since the skippers are sailing alone, unassisted and non-stopacross several feared areas of the globe, such as the South Seas where conditions are extreme. It is for this reason in particular that the winner wins a hell of a rewardjust like the navigators who arrive at the end of the 45,000 kilometer journey.
How many skippers are competing this year?
This edition brings together 40 skippersa record, representing 11 different nationalities. Among the group, six womenincluding Violette Dorange, 23, the youngest participant.
Yannick Bestaven, winner in 2020-2021, Charlie Dalin, first to cross the finish line during the previous edition, and Clarisse Crémer who holds the women's record (87d 2h 24min 25s) will also be present.
How much does the winner earn?
Like the previous edition in 2020, the winner of the Vendée Globe 2024 will receive a reward of 200,000 euros. The total prize pool for this edition is 800,000 euros, distributed among the skippers according to their final ranking. For example, the skipper who arrived in second wins 140,000 euroswhile the third wins 100,000 euros.
Beyond the cash prizes,skippers gain prestige and recognition. Completing the Vendée Globe is a major achievement in itself, often considered a personal victory, especially in a race where more than 20% of participants abandon due to difficulties.
The skippers finishing the race also gain significant indirect benefits, such as sponsorship opportunities, increased visibility and recognition in the world of sailing. For many, the sporting achievement and notoriety that accompany the Vendée Globe even surpass the financial rewards.
Who is the last winner of the Vendée Globe?
The last winner of the Vendée Globe, in 2020, is Yannick Bestaven. The trained engineer has crossed the finish line in third position on January 28, 2021, but was officially declared the winner thanks to time compensation awarded for his participation in the rescue of Kevin Escoffier, another competitor in distress. This compensation allowed him to win the race with an official time of 80 days, 3 hours, 44 minutes and 46 seconds.
What course and how many candidates?
The skippers cover a theoretical distance of approximately 45,000 kilometers around the globeor 24,300 nautical miles. It is to this day the biggest sailing race around the worldsolo, non-stop and without assistance. During the nine previous editions, most of the candidates have covered almost 52,000 kilometers, according to the official Vendée Globe website.
They cross the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, passing through the three great capes: Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn. The start and finish are in Les Sables-D'Olonne, in Vendée.
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