The Vendée Globe
The Vendée Globe takes place every 4 years. It is first and foremost a human adventure. A round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance on monohulls. It starts and finishes at Les Sables d'Olonne. Ever since it was first held in 1989, this race has had strong media and sporting impact. The town of Les Sables d'Olonne and the department of Vendée are privileged partners in this fabulous adventure. The challenge has been taken up by the world's best skippers. The next start to the race will take place on 9th November 2008, at Les Sables d'Olonne.
The exceptional Vendée Globe sailing event is a solo, round-the-world, non-stop race with no outside assistance. Held every four years, the race involves a 26,000 mile course around the world, with competitors rounding three capes (Cape of Good Hope, Cape Lewin, and Cape Horn) before returning several months later to Les Sables d'Olonne in Vendée.
Legend has it that the Vendée Globe originated when a group of thrill-seeking friends challenged each other to the ultimate race around the world in a single-hull sailboat, solo, with no stops and no assistance. Philippe Jeantot organised the first Vendée Globe in 1989. Since then, the race has been held in 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004. Vincent RIOU has triumphed in the fifth (2004) Vendée Globe, crossing the finish line on 2 February 2005 after 87 days, 10 hours, 47 minutes and 55 seconds on PRB (knocking six days off the record held by Michel Desjoyeaux). He was followed after a few hours by Jean Le CAM on Bonduelle and Mike GOLDING on Ecover.
The Everest of Sailing
The race is limited to 60-ft (18m20) single-hull sailboats.
Competitors need a wide variety of technical skills and extreme physical endurance to participate in this demanding race, often called the "Everest of sailing." Indeed, the rules stipulate that the only authorised stopping place is Les Sables d'Olonne.
A Human Adventure
"Win the Vendée Globe?" say the skippers who undertake the adventure. "Getting round the world and back again is a triumph in and of itself! The ranking doesn't matter!" The Vendée Globe is above all a human adventure.
Since it was first held in 1989, the high-profile race has attracted wide media coverage. In 2004, the city of Les Sables d'Olonne and the Department of the Vendée are the privileged partners of this fabulous adventure, along with 28 major Vendee companies that were committed to investing in the success of this great event.
Once again, the Vendée Globe will be an opportunity for the entire world to discover the tourist appeal of the Vendée.
Internationalisation of Paramount Importance
Internationalisation is one of the major objectives of this 5th edition. According to Denis Horeau, Race Director, "the Vendée Globe is to sailing what the World Cup is to football." For example, it is important to welcome foreign skippers and provide them with documents translated into their own language.
Moreover, many people who cannot travel to Les Sables d'Olonne follow the Vendée Globe from elsewhere in France and abroad. Accordingly, an extensive website has been created that can accommodate thousands of visitors at once, providing accurate, up-to-date, interactive information.
To qualify, the skippers must prove their sailing skills during the 12 months preceding the race, on a boat of the same size as the one they plan to sail round the world. World-class racers in the 60-foot class and elite solo skippers are already training hard in preparation for the ultimate challenge of this legendary race.
