VENDÉE GLOBE
The Vendée Globe is a solo round-the-world race, passing through the three capes, without any stopovers or assistance, and is the grail for solo sailors. Starting every four years in Les Sables d'Olonne, the tenth edition of this reference race will set off on 10 November 2024, at 13h02.
Created three decades ago by Philippe Jeantot, the Vendée Globe is the flagship event of solo ocean racing. The event, simple in its wording but extreme in its execution, has been a legend in the sport since its first edition in 1989, won by Titouan Lamazou after 109 days at sea.
Since then, the race time has been reduced by a third, on a course that has remained unchanged and the magic continues to work. The last record to be beaten was set in the 2016-17 edition by Armel Le Cléac'h from Finistère, who completed the 24,000 miles (more than 44,400 kilometres) in 74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds, at the end of an interminable battle with his runner-up, the British sailor Alex Thomson.
The ninth edition of the race left its mark on many levels: an exceptional field of 33 IMOCA boats at the start, a breathtaking battle throughout the race, crowned by a memorable finish with 8 finishes in 24 hours, the rescue of Kevin Escoffier, a symbol of the values that the sailors hold dear, and so many other things that make this Vendée Globe 2020 a historic race.