Preserve

III) The Ocean and the Arctic at the Heart of Our Commitment

The ocean is our playing field. It is our responsibility to do everything possible to protect it and to help as many people as possible understand both its beauty and its fragility.

Protecting Marine Biodiversity

Collisions between IMOCA yachts and cetaceans represent a dual challenge: protecting marine biodiversity while also safeguarding skipper safety. 
To reduce collision risks, and alongside the technological solutions being developed by teams and the IMOCA Class, Vendée Arctique has worked with PELAGIS, a recognised authority in cetacean research, and the National Museum of Natural History, a long-standing reference institution for biodiversity research, to establish Biodiversity Protection Zones (BPZs).

These zones were defined through a rigorous two-stage scientific process:

• Statistical data on the presence and observation of various cetacean species along the race route was first analysed.
• This data was then cross-referenced with scientific knowledge of species behaviour — some species, such as blue whales, tend to remain almost exclusively at the surface, while others spend most of their time at greater depths and surface only rarely — as well as marine topography and IMOCA characteristics, including fleet size and speed.

The result is a collision-risk mapping of the entire course. 
Several particularly sensitive areas were identified and subsequently declared off-limits. In total, five zones are concerned, notably around Iceland, in the North Sea and west of Ireland.

These zones help reduce collision risks. However, because cetaceans are living animals that move continuously, zero risk can never be achieved.

Supporting Scientific Research

Using Our Races to Collect Scientific Data.
Our skippers sail through some of the most remote areas of the world’s oceans, regions rarely visited by sailors. As a result, our races provide unique opportunities to collect scientific data that contributes to a better understanding of oceanic climate and weather evolution.
During Vendée Arctique, three weather buoys will be deployed in partnership with Météo-France. 
These buoys measure atmospheric pressure, temperature and surface currents, feeding forecasting models used to better anticipate extreme weather events such as storms, cyclones, heatwaves and droughts, generating direct benefits for society as a whole.

Vendée Arctique will also provide an opportunity to begin testing the instruments scheduled for deployment during the 2028 Vendée Globe, when all skippers will be equipped. A prototype weather station will therefore be tested during the race, notably to assess its resistance to real offshore racing conditions.

Raising Public Awareness

The Arctic, like the oceans, is among the natural environments most exposed to the consequences of climate change. In this context, Vendée Arctique has established two Ocean Partnerships with IFREMER and the French Polar Institute, whose educational resources help raise public awareness of Arctic and ocean-related issues.

As in 2022, polar explorer Florian Ledoux will present a photographic exhibition dedicated to polar bears, offering visitors an encounter with these giants of the ice.

Four scientific institutions and associations will be present in the Vendée Arctique village to raise awareness among visitors about Arctic and ocean-related topics.

A full day will be dedicated to public awareness activities as part of World Environment Day on Friday 5 June. Further information regarding this day will be released at a later date.