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Vendée ArctiqueVendée Globe qualification live: The Imocas are let loose again

Lars Bolle

 · 11.06.2022

Vendée Arctique: Vendée Globe qualification live: The Imocas are let loose againPhoto: Vendée Arctique
For the solo skippers, it's all the way to the Arctic Circle
The start of the second edition of the Vendée Arctique, the 3,500 nautical mile qualifying race for the next Vendée Globe, is on Sunday

The second edition of the Vendée Arctique starts on Sunday 12 June at 17:00 local time in France (16:00 BST/15:00 UTC). It will cover 3,500 nautical miles from Les Sables-d'Olonne in France around Iceland and back to the Arctic Circle to Les Sables-d'Olonne, which should be reached around twelve days later.

The Vendée Arctique is the first of five qualifying races for the Vendée Globe and one of the most difficult. At 3,500 miles, it is roughly the same distance as the Route du Rhum destination of Guadeloupe. But this race is not just across the Atlantic like the Route du Rhum, the 25 solo skippers entered have to go as far north as Iceland and thus to latitudes never before travelled by the Imoca class. The course leads through a variety of weather systems that will challenge the sailors from the first to the last day.

The course of the racePhoto: Vendée Arctique The course of the race

The list of participants reads like a who's who of the Imoca class. Jérémie Beyou ("Charal"), Louis Burton ("Bureau Vallee"), Conrad Colman ("Imagine"), Charlie Dalin ("Apivia"), Isabelle Joschke ("MACSF") and Nicolas Lunven ("Banque Populaire") are among those taking part. So it should be close and exciting. However, Boris Herrmann and Jörg Riechers are not taking part.

The participantsPhoto: Vendée Arctique The participants

How can I follow the race?

The Imocas will take it in turns to leave the pontoon between 13:15 and 15:15 local time on Sunday 12 June. To reach the starting area, the skippers will sail down the legendary canal of Les Sables-d'Olonne and will certainly be given a typically grand send-off.

The dock-out will be broadcast live from the pontoons with commentary from Andi Robertson and Will Harris (Team Malizia). In French, there will be Maxime Cogny, with expert support from Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) and Maxime Sorel (V and B Monbana Mayenne). This livestream will be available on the Vendée Arctique YouTube and Facebook channels.

The race tracker will be updated at 7 a. m., 11 a. m., 3 p. m. and 7 p. m. (French time).

Every day at 19:00 live on the Vendée Arctique Facebook and Youtube channels, the "live course" connects with the participants (19:30 S.m.).

The racing website with content in French and English will offer a continuous newsfeed and two daily articles.

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Lars Bolle

Lars Bolle

Chief Editor Digital

Lars Bolle is Editor-in-Chief Digital and one of the co-founders of YACHT's online presence. He worked for many years as an editor in the Sports and Seamanship section and has covered many sailing events. His personal sailing vita ranges from competitive dinghy sailing (German champion 1992 in the Finn Dinghy) to historic and modern dinghy cruisers and charter trips.

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