Latest news and media
Pip Hare, “I would like to be closer to Giancarlo Pedote, to Damien Seguin and to Isabelle Joschke. If I could be close to them I would be super happy."
She was one of the outstanding stars of the last Vendée Globe. Racing one of the oldest, most physical boats in the race Pip Hare engaged throughout the course, punching above expectations in the south and pressing some of the foiling boats until she, memorably, had to replace a rudder blade in the…
What makes it hard?
Intense, demanding, challenging, unrelenting…the Vendée Arctique goes against the ‘usual’ norms of IMOCA ocean racing. The course crosses numerous tough weather systems with multiple transitions over short periods. There is little time to establish and stay in a rhythm. The denser, colder air makes…
Jérémie Beyou (Charal): “We are going to cross the motorway at the speed of a hedgehog”
Two years after the first edition of the Vendée Arctique top French skipper Jérémie Beyou is back to defend the title which he won in July 2020. The three times winner of La Solitaire du Figaro who finished third in the 2016 Vendée Globe gives his insights into what awaits the fleet after they…
Vendée Arctique Les Sables d’Olonne, Round Iceland Course Is On
With the prospect of acceptable weather conditions the second edition of the 3,500 nautical miles Vendée Arctique Les Sables d’Olonne, which starts on Sunday, sees a course set for the 25 solo skippers which will take them north of Iceland, a first for solo IMOCA class racing.
Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh has to abandon the Vendée Arctique Les Sables race
The Belgian solo skipper Denis Van Weynbergh who had got to less than twenty miles from the finish line of the Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne made the decision to finally 08h22 PM this Saturday evening. His choice was made after succumbing to a succession of damages which have built up on…
Three Key Things To Know About The Rookies
Eight skippers have taken their first solo steps in the IMOCA class this season. Some might have sailed and raced IMOCAs before but now they are solo, others are stepping on to the solo stage for the first time. All have ambitions to race the Vendée Globe.
The Arctic, a myserious, almost forgotten by vitally important area
In the Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne race village on Monday the underwater exploration program Under the Pole and the Pure Ocean Foundation hosted an informative seminar all about the Arctic and the polar areas. The Arctic Circle is the northernmost of the five main parallels along with the…
First Steps For Hungary's Szabi
Although he has never even been to a Vendée Globe start before, nor indeed the start of any of the big French solo or double handed ocean races, 49 year old Hungarian rookie Szabolcs Weores is fitting right in and enjoying the build-up to next Sunday’s start of the Vendée Arctique Les Sables d…
Everything You Need To Know
THE RACE The start of this second edition of the Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d’Olonne will be on Sunday June 12 at 1700hrs local time. Then 25 solo sailors will head off on a course which is about 3,500 nautical miles. Whilst the Vendée Globe heads south across the Equator, on this race the solo…
Everything You Need To Know
THE RACE The start of this second edition of the Vendée Arctique-Les Sables d’Olonne will be on Sunday June 12 at 1700hrs local time. Then 25 solo sailors will head off on a course which is about 3,500 nautical miles. Whilst the Vendée Globe heads south across the Equator, on this race the solo…
The Runs For Fun Make A Great Show
After a day marked by heavy downpours and rumbles of thunder, the sun returned on cue for yesterday evening’s exhibition runs, a 1.21 miles timed sprint. Best time for the sprint means best speed. It’s a simple concept which produces a great, fun exhibition for spectators, allows teams and skippers…
About Last Night. Thousands Honour Vendée Globe Skippers in Les Sables D’Olonne
Tens of thousands of partying, passionate Vendée Globe race fans and well-wishers lined Les Sables d’Olonne’s Grand Plage, the main sea front promenade, last night (Friday) to honour the heroic 2020-2021 skippers. Emotions and celebrations suppressed by the pandemic for over a year came bursting to…
Let the party begin!
Four key events will mark the start period before the second edition of the Arctic Vendée – Les Sables d’Olonne. The festivities begin this Friday, June 3, in Les Sables d'Olonne.
There will be 25 solo skippers at the start
For its second edition, the Vendée Arctic – Les Sables d’Olonne race has attracted a strong line-up at just over two years from the start of 2024’s 10th edition of the Vendée Globe. The sporting as well as the media successes of the phenomenal 2020-2021 edition have really stimulated skippers’…
21 qualified for the Arctic Vendée
Charlie Dalin (Apivia) won the third edition of the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race, his first solo victory in IMOCA, his fourth outright win 4th since 2019 across all formats. Twenty one of the 24 solo sailors have now qualified for the Arctic Vendée – Les Sables d’Olonne.
Vendée Arctic Weather explained by Christian Dumard
Consultant meteorologist for the Arctic Vendée – Les Sables d’Olonne, Christian Dumard explains the meteorological patterns which prevail on the course towards the Arctic Circle and back and how they affect the skippers routing and choices.
To The Arctic Circle And Back
Just over one month before the start, scheduled for Les Sables-d'Olonne on June 12, race director Francis Le Goff, the race director explains the course of the Vendée Arctic - Les Sables d'Olonne, a race which will be demanding in a host of different ways but which should give rise to a great…
"The daggerboard boats can still be in the mix at Iceland"...Race Director Le Goff
Of the 24 skippers still racing on the second Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d'Olonne, ten are sailing on IMOCAs with straight daggerboards. Out in the east it is rookies Benjamin Ferré and Guirec Soudée who are the top two on the rankings. Ferré races the 2015 boat which was formerly MACIF and SMA…
