At 1:02pm this Sunday, the 40 sailors on the solo round-the-world race set off from Les Sables d’Olonne. The fleet is struggling to make headway in a windless zone.
In Les Sables d’Olonne
Deliverance came with a cannon shot at precisely 13h02. The 40 sailors of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025, who had been waiting outside Les Sables d’Olonne since mid-morning after a triumphant exit from the harbor via the channel, finally unleashed their horses despite very light winds of just four knots. The mediocre conditions prompted the organizers to consider postponing the start, which was finally confirmed at midday. “It’ll be a small relief not to get hammered at sea tonight!“rejoiced Samantha Davies (Initiatives Cœur) in the early hours of the morning, relieved to have avoided an early blow.
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It wasn’t much of a show, then, for the sailors ready to swallow an indigestible program: 45,000 km (24,300 miles) of course, leaving to port the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and the mythical Cape Horn, three natural landmarks before beginning the long climb back up the Atlantic towards the town of Vendée. All single-handed on their monohull, with no assistance and no stopovers, of course.
Less than 70 days to the winner?
The favorites to succeed Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ), present to defend his crown, may take less than seventy days to complete the legendary circumnavigation at the helm of the latest generation of Imoca, 18-meter hydrofoil monohulls. If conditions are favorable, Armel Le Cléac’h’s record from the 2016-2017 edition is in its final weeks (74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds).
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There are just under ten sailors among the favourites to win a record tenth edition of the race. Not since 1989 have so many competitors taken the start of the race (33 four years ago). Among them were six women – a record equalled – and fifteen newcomers, who discovered the magic of sailing up the channel in a euphoric atmosphere between 8 and 10 o’clock on Sunday morning. A triumphant farewell to the landlubbers after an emotional passage on the pontoon when they had to leave their loved ones behind.
Whereas four years ago, the event was held in confinement, the crowds happily returned to their usual routine in Les Sables d’Olonne. Organizers were expecting between 300,000 and 400,000 spectators along the quays and coastline. This huge popular success was also confirmed on the water, with some 1,000 boats accompanying the sailors out to sea.