Counting down to the start...

The organization has formalized the broad outlines of its new regulations for the next edition of the Vendée Globe. The fundamental DNA of the race is preserved – a solo round-the-world race, non-stop and without assistance – and there will be a maximum of 40 skippers at the start.

WHAT THE SKIPPERS SAID (38/40). He has completed three crewed round-the-world passages, but the super-experienced Sébastien Marsset has always dreamed of the Vendée Globe. He has made it all work with one of the smallest budgets in the fleet and an old boat. And he has already proven he is not here…

A renowned competitor on the 1996 Vendée Globe, Isabelle Autissier has developed a passion for the Big South. As head of the TAAF* advisory group, she will be aboard the French supply ship Marion Dufresne which plies the deep south moving between the French territorial islands in a few weeks. But…

Les Sables d’Olonne has been experiencing a few Indian summer days which are great for the tens of thousands of visitors who are lining up to file up and down the Vendée Globe pontoon, enjoying a chance to see all of the record fleet of 40 IMOCAs which are all but ready for Sunday’s start of the…

WHAT THE SKIPPERS SAID (37/40): Eight years after a first participation which showed enormous promise before his Vendée Globe was halted in the Southern Ocean by a keel problem Paul Meilhat is back, this time racing a foiling boat which was bult for him and on which he is pitching to win.

With skippers, teams and sponsors having invested so much time and energy getting their IMOCA on to the start line of the Vendée Globe what would happen if something unexpected happened to the skipper and he or she was unable to take the start?

THE SKIPPERS SAID (36/40) Four years after her twelfth place in 2020-21 Clarisse Crémer, the fastest woman to sail solo non-stop around the world in the Vendée Globe, is back. She has overcome several well publicised hurdles to get here. She has learned to find peace and returns to enjoy her deep…

THE SKIPPERS SAID (35/40): Damien Seguin was the first athlete with a disability to take part in the Vendée Globe in 2020. The Paralympic champion sailed an exceptional race, finishing seventh on his daggerboard boat! Now, four years later, he is back wanting to do even better, this time racing…