All news

LIVE: FOLLOW THE START OF THE RACE

Don’t miss a moment of the race start! The skippers will arrive at the race village at 9:00 a.m., leave the pontoons at 10:00 a.m., and then set off at 1:02 p.m. To follow them all the way until they head out to sea, follow our guide!

Village

9:40 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: The first live broadcast from the pontoon, featuring the skippers’ final words before departure and their send-off. The entire passage through the channel will also be streamed live.

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.: Live coverage resumes. By then, the boats will be offshore and approaching the starting line, which they will cross at 1:02 p.m.

Race start: 1:02 p.m.

To play this video, you must accept YouTube cookies

Follow the start | Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne2026

Share this article

Latest news

Briefing

That Moment When It All Becomes Real

They have spent weeks, even months, preparing their boats. They have studied weather files, checked every last detail and imagined dozens of possible scenarios. Yet just a few hours before the start, there is always one area that remains impossible to control: emotions. The eagerness to get…
À bord de MACSF

CORENTIN HOREAU: «A GREAT DRESS REHEARSAL FOR THE VENDÉE GLOBE»

MACSF skipper Corentin Horeau is about to compete in the longest solo race of his IMOCA career. It is a major challenge for the 36-year-old sailor, who rose through the Figaro ranks and has already demonstrated remarkable resilience offshore. While approaching the race with humility, Corentin is…
Le village de la Vendée Arctique.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE START

Whether you’re in Les Sables d’Olonne or watching from home, you won’t miss a thing! The skippers will arrive at the race village at 09:30, leave the pontoons from 10:30 and cross the start line at 13:02. Here’s your guide to following every moment before they head offshore.
31 mai, les Sables-d'Olonne, village de la Vendée Arctique, interview de Nico d'Estais, skipper de l'IMOCA Café Joyeux et de Claire Faure-Millet, directrice générale de Café Joyeux.

VENDÉE ARCTIQUE: THE VILLAGE IN 10 PICTURES

Before the IMOCA fleet sets sail tomorrow towards the High North, the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne has already offered a memorable journey ashore. A week filled with encounters, discoveries, music, sharing and commitment, during which the race village lived to the rhythm of the sailors and…
Ambrogio Beccaria

Ambrogio Beccaria : “Setting Off with More Questions Than Answers”

Winner of the 2019 Mini Transat 6.50 Series division and runner-up in the Class40 category of the Route du Rhum three years later, Ambrogio Beccaria has built a reputation as a sailor who learns quickly. Yet on the eve of the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne, the Italian finds himself facing a…
À bord d'April Marine - recherche co-sponsor.

Arnaud Boissières: “The channel passage is always an emotional moment.”

Arnaud Boissières, the hometown favourite! The skipper from Arcachon, who has become a true local of Les Sables-d’Olonne over the years, is embarking on a new campaign towards the Vendée Globe. At 53, he is one of the most experienced skippers in the fleet and, alongside Manu Cousin, the only…
Elodie Bonafous

Elodie Bonafous : “A Line on the Chart, a World to Discover”

Some races are approached with certainty. Others with far more questions. That is precisely what appeals to Elodie Bonafous as she prepares for the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne. With a course that will take her far beyond her usual sailing grounds, the skipper of Association Petits Princes…
À bord d'Initiatives Coeur.

Violette Dorange: Entering a New Dimension with Initiatives-Cœur

Nearly eighteen months after the Vendée Globe that propelled her to extraordinary popularity, Violette Dorange is back in Les Sables d’Olonne aboard the foiling IMOCA Initiatives-Cœur. After securing a podium finish at the start of the season, the 23-year-old skipper is making no secret of her…