Dear readers,
Have you already caught the fever? I don't mean the fever that has you lying in bed with a high temperature. Get well soon, if that's the case. No, I'm talking about the Vendée Globe euphoria. If not, it's high time. Because probably the toughest sailing race around the world starts in a week's time. Then 40 skippers from 11 nations will set sail from the tranquil Les Sables-d'Olonne.
However, there is no question of it being tranquil at the moment. The small town in the west of France is the beating heart of the event - and it is very busy at the moment. When I visited last week, I was surprised by the crowds. The town is bursting at the seams with visitors.
Banners are flying everywhere and life-size displays of the skippers are standing around. Especially at the harbour, where the Sailors' Village has been open for a fortnight, the crowds are enormous. Visitors have to wait up to two hours to be allowed to squeeze through the earth like an earthworm over the jetties where the racing boats are lined up.
Every now and then a murmur goes through the crowd when another skipper hurriedly fights his way through the masses to his boat. They have been under constant stress for days. They've been giving interviews, doing photo shoots and meeting sponsors at breakneck speed. After all, it won't be long before they set off - non-stop around the world.
The event has long since developed from a regional classic into a major national event that captivates the whole of France. The athletes are celebrated like superstars everywhere. Large advertising banners hang at railway stations in Paris, renowned newspapers run special editions and sponsors advertise their sailing heroes on television.
And in Germany? So far there has been little sign of the hustle and bustle and Vendée fever. Every now and then there is a headline in the newspapers, and the first reports are tentatively flowing into the feeds of the major news sites. But I think there's more to come!
Of course, sailing is more of a popular sport in France than here in Germany. But there is also interest in high-class sailing in Germany. The fly-by of the last Ocean Race in Kiel demonstrated this impressively: 25,000 people gathered on the fjord. La-ola waves, cheers and booming ship horns created a rousing atmosphere. Thanks to the 2,000 boats, the atmosphere on the water was like that of the America's Cup. It was a feast for all the sailing senses, As a colleague aptly described it.
Or do you remember the christening of Boris Herrmann's new IMOCA, the Malizia Seaexplorer, in Hamburg's HafenCity in 2022? Thousands of fans flocked to the banks of the Elbe. Several broadcasters covered the event live. Of course, Boris is a crowd-puller; wherever he appears, people follow him. But the public interest surprised me and went beyond the usual Boris hype. It was the boat, Team Malizia and the sport that inspired.
Now the Vendée Globe is not stopping in Germany. And Boris is also at the start again - with a well-rehearsed boat. Nevertheless, this Vendée harbours the potential for goosebumps and moments of sporting brilliance. You just have to start unearthing this treasure. The French show how it's done. So, bring on the headlines, bring on the anticipation and the Vendée fever. I'm ready and Germany is ready too, I'm sure of it!
Here's wishing you a great week for the first time
Fabian Börger
YACHT editor
P.S.: Vendée fever is also starting now on YACHT.de. Here we will keep you fully informed about the race - with the latest news, live tickers, analyses and stories from off the course.
Click on it to see through:
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Newsletter: YACHT-Woche
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