The Vendée Arctique race, what is it exactly ?
The Vendée Arctique Les Sables d’Olonne North Sea race returns in 2022. This Arctic circle race is not unlike the Route du Rhum or the return leg of the Transat Jacques Vabre. A challenging adventure covering 3 500 nautical miles. Departing from Les Sables d’Olonne heading northward, then sailing around Iceland before returning home.
The Vendée Arctic Les Sables d'Olonne 2022 – It’s history
Created in July 2020, the Vendée Arctique race was intended to replace two competitions that were cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic: La Transat Anglaise (the Transat) and the New York-Vendée-Les Sables d’Olonne race.
Today, it has become one of the qualifying stages of the Vendée Globe 2024 edition. It is important to remember that to be eligible for the Vendée Globe, the skippers must have completed at least two of the five qualifying races.
As well as the Vendée Arctique les Sables d’Olonne, here are 4 other qualifying races:
- The Route du Rhum (November 2022)
- The Transat Jacques Vabre return race (November 2023)
- The Transat CIC Brest United States (May 2024)
- The New York – Vendée (July 2024)
Vendée Arctique - 2022 – North Sea yacht race details
Qualifications for the Vendée Arctique Les Sables d’Olonne 2022
To qualify for the Vendée Arctique, skippers will need to have completed one of the following, before the 14th May:
- La Guyader-Bermudes 1000 Race equivalent to 1200 nautical miles
- A course of 800 nautical miles
- 2 qualifying courses, the sum of which needs to be the equivalent of 1000 nautical miles
The 2022 Vendée Arctic: an exceptional yacht sailing event
Between 25 and 30 skippers will be competing in a race reserved for the IMOCA (International Monohull Open Class Association) 60 (“Open 60”, monohulls of 60 feet measuring 18.28 metres in height). This race is described as unprecedented: the circuit crosses the Arctic Circle before sailing around Iceland, and then returning to Les sables d’Olonne.
The Vendée Arctique is a real challenge. But why? Crossing the arctic circle is difficult due to unstable weather conditions. This yacht race is very different to that of the Vendée Globe, where the weather previsions can last four to five days.
The Vendée Arctique 2022: A race of 3 500 nautical miles.
For this qualifying race, skippers will set out on a stormy adventure. The Vendée Arctique is a 3 566 miles race (around 6 600km), organised by SAEM Vendée (the Society who, organises the Vendée Globe since 2003).
The aim is to sail towards the North Atlantic, non-stop and without assistance, as in the Vendée Globe. The IMOCA reference time is 10 days 05 hours 14 minutes and 08 seconds, the winning time of Jérémie Beyou during the 2020 edition.
In this singled-handed, non-stop race, the skippers will leave from the famous Vendée Globe pontoon and follow the channel, heading out towards the starting line, off the coast at Les Sables d’Olonne.
The Vendée Arctique race, a demanding course for skippers
The skippers will head north towards the Arctic Circle, sailing around Iceland, before returning to the resort of Les Sables d’Olonne. The course and its concept are both innovative and challenging, considering that this is only the second edition, the first one took place in 2020.
Discover all the details on the Vendée Arctique Les Sables d’Olonne 2022!
Go to our special Vendée Arctique les Sables d'Olonne 2022 area to find all the information on the 1st qualifying race for the Vendée Globe 2024! You will find the registered skippers, the race route, practical information on the village and how to attend the start of the Vendée Arctique les Sables d'Olonne... Once the race has started, follow the race day after day with the official ranking! #VendeeArctique