Vendée Globe: Green light from the organisers: Vendée Globe remains on course

The rumour mill has been churning for weeks: Will the Vendée Globe be postponed during the corona pandemic or not? And if so, will The Ocean Race also be postponed accordingly (because there would be no other option due to the Imoca overlap)? The first important "domino" has obviously been left standing. The Vendée Globe organisers have made it clear: The starting shot for France's most famous regatta and the world's most popular solo race around the world is to be fired as planned on 8 November. This means that the organisers have kept their promise to clarify the uncertain situation for many by 15 June at the latest. Yves Auvinet, President of SAEM Vendée, said: "The race will take place. And it looks very much like it will be one of the most breathtaking in the history of single-handed sailing around the world. Our teams are working tirelessly to ensure that we can welcome the public in the best possible way."

It is still possible for a record fleet to take part in the upcoming ninth edition: 18 skippers, including Hamburg's Boris Herrmann, have already completed their entries, while a further 17 still have to fulfil various qualification requirements or finalise their entries. The registration deadline is not until 1 September.

The following have successfully registered: Fabrice Amedeo ("Newrest - Art & Fenêtres"), Romain Attanasio ("Puré - Best Western"), Alexia Barrier ("4myPlanet"), Yannick Bastaven ("Maître CoQ IV"), Jérémie Beyou ("Charal"), Arnaud Boissières ("La Mie Câlines - Artisans Artipôle"), Manuel Cousin ("Groupe Sétin"), Clarisse Crémer ("Banque Popoulaire X"), Charlie Dalin ("Apivia"), the British Samantha "Sam" Davies ("Initiatives-Cœur"), Benjamin Dutreux ("Water Family - Oceania Hôtels"), Kevin Escoffier ("PRB"), Boris Herrmann ("Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco"), Jean Le Cam ("Yes, we Cam!"), Stéphane le Diraison ("Time for the Oceans"), Mirando Merron ("Campagne de France"), Giancarlo Pedote ("Prysmian Group") and the Swiss Alan Roura ("La Fabrique"). Alex Thomson with his "Hugo Boss" and the German-French Isabell Joschke with "MACSF" are also among the participants who have not yet been finally registered because they are missing miles.

"Seaexplorer" in flight mode

Before the Vendée Globe starts in late autumn, there are important preludes on the programme. The new Vendée Arctique Les Sables d'Olonne race starts on 4 July (Saturday). With this 3600 nautical mile regatta, the Imoca class has created a replacement for the transatlantic races that were cancelled during the pandemic, which also suits the sailors very well. Many of them either still have to collect qualifying miles or - like Boris Herrmann, who is currently expecting his first child with his wife Birte in Hamburg while his team is testing the "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco" off Lorient - want to put their new or revised boats through their paces.

The next major press conference is planned for 17 September at the Palais Brongniart in Paris. Traditionally, it takes place one month before the opening of the regatta village in the Vendée start harbour of Les Sables d'Olonne. The arrival of the participants at the survey pontoon has been scheduled for 16 October. The regatta village will open its doors on 17 October. The starting signal will be given on 8 November at 12.02 pm (UTC), i.e. 1.02 pm German time. The race could set the following records among others: If the six expected female skippers (around 17 per cent of the fleet) start , it would be a new female record for the Vendée Globe. The ocean marathon has also never seen twelve non-French skippers (34 per cent of the fleet) before.