The start of the Vendée Globe is always an intense moment to experience for sailors who are preparing to sail around the world alone. The return of the channel is expected by everyone and this year, an impressive crowd of several hundred thousand people gathered along the quays. In an indescribable atmosphere, Nikola Karabatic, present for this departure, even made the comparison with the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Life resumes its course Sables-d’Olonne. The 40 skippers took out the main sail to set off into the Atlantic Ocean, traveling 45,000 kilometers around the globe. This legendary race was launched this Sunday, at 1:02 p.m., in an exceptional atmosphere.
Sailing – Éric Bellion: “There is nothing above the Vendée Globe” pic.twitter.com/6hS8I5k0tc
— le10sport (@le10sport) December 19, 2023
“We are ordinary people who surpass ourselves to achieve something extraordinary”
Paul Meilhatone of the 40 participants in this tenth edition of the Vendée Globe explained his feelings to Parisianwhen crossing the channel: “ It’s incredible. Stronger than you can imagine before leaving the pontoon. There are people who do just that, who every 4 years meet here in the Sables d’Olonne channel to witness the start of the Vendée Globe, a magical event. The least we can do is share this with them, just to say thank you. This atmosphere contributes to the fact that this event is completely beyond us, there is not much rational in it. We are ordinary people who surpass ourselves to achieve something extraordinary. »
“The feeling of reliving the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games”
Nikola Karabatichandball legend and present during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was present at Sables-d’Olonne this Sunday to watch the start of the race. In shock at such an atmosphere, he blurted out, Parisian : « It’s completely crazy, I had the impression of reliving the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. » Roman Dickoteam gold medalist in judo during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was also present: “ It makes me want it, but certainly not for 100 days, it’s so extraordinary what they do. »
