how this sailing race became legendary

One of the greatest sporting challenges on the planet. On November 10, forty skippers will set off from Les Sables-d’Olonne (Vendée) for a solo sailing trip around the world lasting almost three months, without stopovers or assistance. The city expects more than 2 million visitors and nearly 200 television channels will cover the event on five continents. How far gone are the days of the first edition, painfully financed in 1989, when only 13 sailors took the start. In just thirty-five years, the Vendée Globe has established itself as the most legendary solo sailing race in the world. How ?

An extraordinary challenge

“Everything starts from immutable rules that are simple to understand for the general public. Every four years, the race starts and finishes in Les Sables-d’Olonne, when other sailing events change starting city, sometimes continent, for each edition,” explains Didier Ravon, author of the book. The Vendée Globe, 35 years of adventure (Ed. Gallimard). The Capes of Good Hope (South Africa), Leeuwin (Australia) and Horn (Chile), the three great geographical points of the Southern Hemisphere, must be crossed on the port (left) side. The diversity of the race (women and men share the same classification) further adds to the sympathy of the public, who identify more easily.

But the main attraction lies in the dangerousness of the adventure. Three sailors lost their lives during previous editions. That they cross the wildest seas in the world without stopover and without assistance fascinates and captivates. “It’s a bit like going to the circus. You don’t want the tamer to be attacked by a lion, but you want a little adrenaline,” smiles Didier Ravon. For many spectators, the rescues remain the best stories. The golden rule at sea requires any sailor to rescue a boat requesting assistance, unless he can prove that it is not feasible. We remember epic scenarios, such as the rescue, in 2020, of Kevin Escoffier by Jean Le Cam in the heart of the raging Indian Ocean.

Technological progress also contributes to the craze. From now on, sailors give interviews at sea and cameras place us in the heart of the storms of the roaring 40s. Even the game gets involved. Founded in 2006, the online simulation Virtual Regatta is very popular. In 2020, more than a million players participated in the race from their living rooms. The Everest of the seas is more accessible than ever.