Paris, May 19, 2026 – 5:00 p.m.
On June 7, nine sailors will set sail from Les Sables d’Olonne for a solo, non-stop, and unassisted race to the Arctic Circle. For the first time in the history of IMOCA ocean racing, the skippers will set off on a free course with no mandatory route: they must cross the Arctic Circle at 66° North, at a longitude of their choice, before returning to the Vendée. This new format promises radically different strategies and places weather, human commitment, and decision-making more than ever at the heart of the sporting challenge.
A UNIQUE RACE SET IN THE FAR NORTH
Launched in 2020, the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne has quickly established itself as a full-fledged event in the series leading up to the Vendée Globe. Conceived as an extreme challenge in the high latitudes, it plunges skippers into an environment radically different from the Southern Ocean conditions of the Vendée Globe: those of the high Arctic latitudes.
For the 2026 edition, which will set sail on Sunday, June 7 at 1:02 p.m., the race takes a new step with a major change: sailors must cross the Arctic Circle—66° North—at a longitude of their choice before returning to Les Sables d’Olonne.
With a free course and no intermediate virtual gates or imposed route, the skippers will have to devise their strategy amid weather systems and polar constraints.
Crossing the Arctic Circle is one of the most significant symbolic milestones of this edition. Located at 66° North, it marks the entry into the high Arctic latitudes, which remain largely unexplored by modern ocean racing.
The race is expected to last between eight and ten days, with arrivals estimated between June 15 and 17.
AN INTERNATIONAL, MIXED, AND MULTI-GENERATIONAL FIELD
Nine skippers will set sail on June 7. A compact field that nonetheless reflects current trends in sailing: growing internationalization, a new generation of sailors, and diverse backgrounds.
The participating skippers
- Ambrogio Beccaria (ITA) – ALLAGRANDE MAPEI
- Arnaud Boissières (FRA) – APRIL MARINE - SEEKING CO-SPONSORS
- Élodie Bonafous (FRA) – ASSOCIATION PETITS PRINCES – QUÉGUINER
- Manuel Cousin (FRA) – COUP DE POUCE
- Nicolas d’Estais (FRA) – CAFÉ JOYEUX
- Violette Dorange (FRA) – INITIATIVES-CŒUR
- Sam Goodchild (FRA/GBR) – MACIF SANTÉ PRÉVOYANCE
- Corentin Horeau (FRA) – MACSF
- Francesca Clapcich (ITA/USA) – 11TH HOUR RACING
With three women competing, four nationalities represented, and several rookies, this 2026 fleet reflects a discipline undergoing a major transformation.
The field brings together sailors from diverse backgrounds—solo, crewed, Olympic, or from the Figaro circuit—confirming the growing international appeal of the IMOCA class.
The nine skippers are already looking forward to this extraordinary voyage:
Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei):
“Crossing the Arctic Circle is symbolic for me; we’re heading far north, so we’ll have to think outside the box.”
Arnaud Boissières (April Marine - Seeking Co-sponsors):
“There will be sleepless nights, incredible landscapes, extreme conditions… and that’s exactly what makes it exciting.”
Élodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes - Queguiner):
“The Vendée Arctique is intimidating simply because of its reputation. We’ll have to learn how to manage the rhythm of the race.”
Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing):
“The new format is extremely interesting. It allows for different strategies and tactics. It’s an innovative format in ocean racing.”
Manuel Cousin (Coup de Pouce):
“This is an important race for me because I’m from Les Sables-d’Olonne; it’s a home race that’s particularly close to my heart.”
Violette Dorange (Initiatives-Cœur):
“The Vendée Arctique is a race that will be truly significant. It will be demanding and difficult.”
Nicolas d’Estais (Café Joyeux):
“It will be a chance to get to know our boats, but above all, it will be an adventure with a capital A. There will likely be many different ways to approach the race. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some very different strategies.”
Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prévoyance):
“We love challenges, and heading to 66° North is no small feat. I can’t wait to experience those long days, cross the Arctic Circle at midnight, and experience the midnight sun.”
Corentin Horeau (MACSF):
“Heading to such distant lands, where we might face some pretty brutal sea and wind conditions… that’s quite something!”
A FULL-SCALE STRATEGIC TEST
Classified as a Grade 2 race, the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne 2026 is the first qualifying event for solo sailors, and its winner will earn 200 points toward the 2028 Vendée Globe.
For the skippers, this race represents a full-scale test of their IMOCAs in extreme conditions. With an open course, strategy will be key: as they encounter North Atlantic low-pressure systems, gaps could widen very quickly depending on the course choices made.
In a particularly unstable environment, the sailors will have to constantly balance speed, safety, fatigue, and weather conditions.
The skippers will also benefit from enhanced safety support with the presence of Yannick Bestaven, winner of the 2020–2021 Vendée Globe, serving as a safety consultant throughout the race, alongside an experienced race management team led by Mathias Louarn.
ALAIN LEBOEUF: “A RACE LIKE NO OTHER”
As President of the Vendée Arctique, the Vendée Globe, and the Department of Vendée, Alain Leboeuf highlighted the uniqueness of this race.
“This Vendée Arctique is a unique race. It sends our skippers to the Far North after preparing them for the Far South. For the first time, they will have a free course, with no set route, and only one requirement: to cross the Arctic Circle and return. The Vendée Arctique is not a preparatory race. It is a race in its own right—demanding and challenging—that pushes sailors to make tough decisions under extreme conditions. This edition officially kicks off the 2028 Vendée Globe cycle. It marks a decisive first step for the skippers, their projects, and their boats.”
A COMMUNITY-FOCUSED VILLAGE IN LES SABLES D’OLONNE
From May 30 to June 7, 2026, Les Sables d’Olonne will host a free village open to all on the Vendée Globe esplanade.
On the agenda: introductions of the skippers, a drone show, speed runs in the bay, meet-and-greets with the teams, and educational activities focused on the Arctic. The event will also feature several themed days centered on the environment, solidarity, and women in offshore sailing.
The event will highlight its environmental, scientific, and social commitments, enabling the race to obtain certification from Fair Play For Planet, a leading organization in sustainable sports in France.
To raise public awareness of ocean conservation issues, scientific institutions and associations—including IFREMER, the French Polar Institute, Plastic Odyssey, and Under The Pole—will be present in the village.
PROTECTING AND UNDERSTANDING THE OCEAN
Biodiversity protection zones have also been established to limit the risk of collisions with cetaceans in certain sensitive areas of the North Atlantic.
Several boats will also carry scientific instruments to collect meteorological, oceanographic, and atmospheric data in areas that remain poorly documented: water temperature, salinity, CO₂ concentration, and meteorological data (three Météo-France buoys deployed during the race).
The Vendée Arctique continues to reinforce offshore racing’s role as a platform for ocean observation.
SCHEDULE
- May 30, 2026: Village opening and drone show
- May 31, 2026: Solidarity Day
- June 2, 2026: “Women at Sea” evening
- June 4, 2026: Speed runs in the bay
- June 5, 2026: World Environment Day
- June 7, 2026 at 1:02 p.m.: Start of the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne 2026
- June 15–17, 2026: Estimated arrivals
- June 18, 2026: Awards ceremony
PRESS CONTACTS
Vendée Globe / Vendée Arctique Press Office
media@vendeeglobe.fr
