At 1:02 p.m. this Sunday, the 40 sailors set off from Les Sables d’Olonne for a world tour.
Les Sables d’Olonne
Deliverance came with a cannon shot at precisely 1:02 p.m. The 40 sailors of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025, who had been waiting since mid-morning in front of Les Sables d’Olonne after a triumphant exit from the port via the channel, finally let their horses go despite very sluggish winds of only four knots. Poor conditions which pushed the organizers to consider postponing the departure, finally confirmed at midday. “It will be a little relief not to get smashed at sea tonight», rejoiced Samantha Davies (Initiatives Cœur) in the early morning, relieved to avoid a bout of tobacco from the start.
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The spectacle was therefore not really there for the sailors ready to swallow an indigestible program: 45,000 km (24,300 miles) of course leaving the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and the legendary Cape Horn on the port side, three natural marks before starting a long journey up the Atlantic towards the Vendée city. All solo on their monohull, without assistance and without stopovers, obviously.
Less than 70 days for the winner?
The favorites to succeed Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ), present to defend his crown, will perhaps take less than seventy days to complete the legendary circumnavigation at the helm of Imoca, 18 meter monohulls with foils, of all latest generation. If the conditions are favorable, Armel Le Cléac’h’s record dating 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 around ten sailors who are among the favorites who can claim victory in a record tenth edition. Never before have so many competitors started the race (33 four years ago) since 1989. Among them, we find six women, a record equaled, but also fifteen rookies who discovered between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sunday morning the magic of the ascent of the channel in a euphoric atmosphere. A triumphant farewell to the landlubbers after a passage on the pontoon full of emotions when they had to leave their loved ones behind.
While the event started in full confinement four years ago, the crowd happily resumed its habits in Les Sables d’Olonne. The organizers expected between 300,000 and 400,000 spectators along the quays and on the coast. A huge popular success which was also confirmed on the water with the presence of around 1000 boats to accompany the sailors out to sea.
