already a lot of people to attend the skippers’ parade

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Sunday November 10, 2024, at 1:02 p.m., will be the grand start of the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe.

Quarante skippers will then set off vers the biggest ocean race there is : a solo sailing trip around the world, without stopovers or assistance.

But before that, they will leave the pontoons and cross the legendary Sables-d’Olonne channel under the eyes and with the encouragement tens, even hundreds of thousands of spectators. An audience sometimes coming from far away, sometimes very early, to experience this rare emotion.

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6:47 a.m. There is no time…

6:42 a.m. “I wouldn’t have believed there would be so many people this morning”

And the stepladder will be very useful…

6:39 a.m. Musical interlude (to warm up a little)

6:31 a.m. Croissant time

The bakeries are working at full capacity, and that’s normal: a coffee and croissant in the cool of the morning, it’s deserved, isn’t it?

6:20 a.m. Update on the morning ahead

A small point is necessary. If the most daring spectators arrived on the channel last night so as not to miss a moment of this sublime morning to come, we will have to wait a little longer before seeing any boats. The skippers’ parade is scheduled for 8 a.m. But then it will just be a parade for them, heading to the starting line. Because it won’t be until 1:02 p.m. precisely that they will set off. Besides, why 1:02 p.m.? We answer you here.

In any case, reports our reporter on site, at 6:20 a.m., “it is already very complicated to move around on the small pier”, as there are now so many spectators.

6:03 a.m. Charlie Dalin will open the ball

At 8 a.m., it is Le Havre’s Charlie Dalin (Macif Santé Prévoyance), one of the big favorites of the race, who will be the first to follow the channel. The parade will see the boats succeed each other every three minutes, ending with Violette Dorange (Devenir), at 9:57 a.m. The full running order is available at this link.

A little more patience… And everyone has their own technique for waiting.

6:00 a.m. What is the weather forecast for the morning?

“If the weather will be foggy at dawn, the cloud ceiling should gradually rise and visibility improve. The first clearings should appear between 10 and 11 a.m., to be more and more numerous until the start,” explains Climat Vendée. More details in our article, at this link.

5:58 a.m. “It’s a great race, don’t miss it! »

5:55 a.m. A little wait

The brave early risers this Sunday, November 10 in the morning will have to wait a few more hours in the cold, before finally seeing what they are all waiting for: the parade of 40 skippers in the running. This will start at 8 a.m. in Port Olona.
Obviously, for those who cannot go there, keep an eye on this live, our journalists are positioned in the most strategic places to make you experience this always moving moment as best as possible.

5:45 a.m. What an atmosphere, at the channel!

5:30 a.m. Already a lot of people attending the skippers’ parade

The Vendée residents are early risers, and especially when it comes to attending the parade of skippers competing for the Vendée Globe 2024. Lots of people already in the (very) early morning, and an atmosphere, what an atmosphere! Turn up the volume, we’ll lend you our eyes and ears.

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