At a press briefing held on 2 April, the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne revealed the first names of the skippers entered for its 2026 edition, as well as the race management team that will ensure the sailors’ safety. As the first qualifying race for the 2028 Vendée Globe, the competition is more than ever establishing itself as a major event on the IMOCA calendar, marking the start of a new sporting cycle for the sailors competing in the next round-the-world race.
A solo, non-stop, unassisted race, the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne is the first qualifying race for the 2028 Vendée Globe. Classified as a Grade 2 event – the highest level of difficulty after a round-the-world race – the Vendée Arctique is much more than just a preparatory race. The winner will earn 200 points in the race to qualify for the 2028 Vendée Globe.
The Vendée has always had a special connection with the ocean and overcoming challenges. After the Far South, sailors now turn their attention to the Far North — and it is from the Vendée that this new cycle begins, leading us all the way to the 2028 Vendée Globe. The Vendée Arctique is not a preparatory race: it is a race in its own right, demanding and unprecedented, sending solo skippers across the Arctic Circle for the first time at the longitude of their choice. An open-air strategic laboratory, where daring and decision-making will make all the difference. This diverse and promising field already offers a taste of what the 2028 Vendée Globe will be like.
The 2026 edition represents a major change: for the first time in the history of offshore racing, the route is not set in stone. Skippers will have to cross the Arctic Circle (66° North) at the longitude of their choice, based on their weather analysis and strategy. This unprecedented format opens up a wide range of possible routes, whilst this extreme latitude, never before reached in IMOCA racing, reinforces the demanding and challenging nature of the Vendée Arctique.
To ensure the safety of the sailors, an experienced race management team has been nominated, led by Mathias Louarn. He will be supported by Pierre Hays and Claire Renou, his deputies. Pierre, who has been involved since the very first edition of the Vendée Arctique, and Claire, who joined the team for the 2022 edition, bring valuable knowledge of the race and its challenges. They will be joined by Alan Roberts, a skipper who brings a sailor’s perspective and practical expertise in the latest generation of IMOCA yachts, gained notably alongside Clarisse Crémer as part of her preparation for the 2024 Vendée Globe.
An additional figure will bolster this already strong team: Yannick Bestaven, winner of the 2020–2021 Vendée Globe, who will act as a safety consultant. Drawing on his experience of the open seas and extreme conditions, he will bring the perspective of a committed sailor, capable of balancing sporting rigour with a priority for the skippers’ safety.
The 2026 Vendée Arctique today unveils the first ten names in a line-up that is international, mixed and intergenerational:
This line-up brings together a wide variety of competitors: ambitious newcomers, established figures in ocean racing and international skippers, all driven by the same goal: to test themselves in an extreme race and take a key step towards the 2028 Vendée Globe.
A race village will be open to the public from 30 May to 7 June 2026 in Les Sables d’Olonne, on the Vendée Globe esplanade. Designed as a place for meeting and sharing, it will offer an immersion in the world of sailing and the Far North, combining a photographic exhibition, opportunities for discussion, entertainment and concerts. Environmental issues will be at the heart of the programme, with the participation of scientists and activists. Designed as a family-friendly and fun village, it will also appeal to younger visitors through a themed exploration trail. The official opening will take place on Saturday 30 May, featuring an introduction to the skippers and a spectacular drone show – originally planned for the closing ceremony of the 2024 Vendée Globe – which will be staged in the evening in the Bay of Les Sables d’Olonne.
