Vendée Globe. The Virgin of Rocamadour will leave her sanctuary to bless the skippers of the greatest solo race in the world

400 km on foot and 100 nautical miles. Carried by pilgrims, from August 15 to October 15, this virgin of about nine centuries leaves for a long journey, from Rocamadour (Lot) to Les Sables-d’Olonne (Vendée). For the great protector of sailors and despite her great age, perhaps it was unthinkable to miss the grand start of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, this solo sailing race? To understand, we must go back in history.

Sailors’ devotion to Our Lady of Rocamadour dates back to the 12th century. In 1172, the perfectly preserved body of the hermit Amadour was found in the rock near the miraculous chapel of the Marian city of Rocamadour. From then on, 126 miracles occurred, including many rescues at sea. In 1183, the construction of the chapel of Our Lady of Rocamadour in Camaret-sur-Mer (Finistère) by Henry II Plantagenet continued to fuel the virgin’s maritime reputation. The building was the last seen by sailors before leaving Brest harbor, invoking the virgin during perils at sea. Finally, in 1536, a procession in honor of Our Lady of Rocamadour was organized to cure sailors suffering from scurvy on The Ermine, the ship of French explorer Jacques Cartier on its way to Newfoundland. Shortly after, a miracle happened: the crew was saved, thanks to a remedy made from the bark and leaves of a tree known to the natives.

And the story continues with this unique adventure. For the first time, she will set off on a pilgrimage from Rocamadour to Les Sables-d’Olonne to bless the sailors on the starting line. It is the Roca Globe, in reference to the skippers who will sail with a small statue of Notre-Dame as well as a sportelle (read the box at the end of the article).

A month of walking and a month of sailing

The pilgrimage will take place in two stages: on land, in 21 stages, then at sea, in 15 stopovers. Starting from Rocamadour, the pilgrims will walk with a copy of the statue, on average stages of around 22 km, easily achievable. They will be on the recent Amadour path which links Rocamadour to Soulac-sur-Mer, in 500 km. From September 14, the virgin will be embarked on a boat with the pilgrims for a planned arrival in Les Sables-d’Olonne, on October 13. “For the maritime part, a couple agreed to lend their 11 m sailing boat, for a month, which will ensure the entire crossing. It will be docked at Port-Médoc, not far from Soulac-sur-Mer”, specifies Alexandre Naud, one of the members of the organization. During these two months of pilgrimage, extended stops will be planned for parishes that would like to gather around Notre-Dame de Rocamadour.

“The porterage team is made up of six or seven people, but everyone can walk alongside us,” says this former director of the Rocamadour sanctuary. The only difficulty in joining the pilgrimage is securing accommodation, which is not necessarily taken into account. Accompanying persons, porters, section leaders, pilgrims passing through… all those of good will are welcome to take part in this land and sea pilgrimage, depending on the time you have available and your physical abilities. For example, the rowing club of Castillon-la-Bataille (Gironde) is participating in its own way by offering to take the Virgin down from Sainte-Foy-la-Grande (Gironde) to their town.

Once she arrives in Les Sables-d’Olonne, the virgin “will take part in several events organised by the local parish”, explains Alexandre Naud. Two days before the start, on 8 November, she will be present at the send-off mass to which all the skippers are invited. On the day the Vendée Globée sets off, on 10 November, she will board a boat to bless the sailors at the start. “In case of bad weather, she will be visible from the exit of the channel. If ideal conditions allow, the skippers will see her from the start line”, he reveals.

The Virgin of Rocamadour and the Vendée Globe: a story linked since 2016

“Through these actions, we are only extending the aura of this virgin with a very old reputation among sailors,” comments Alexandre Naud. A radiance that takes on its full meaning during this solo race of more than 45,000 km. During the 8th edition, in 2016, Notre-Dame de Rocamadour was associated with the famous sailing race, being named patron saint. On this occasion, sportelles were offered to each of the skippers, during the sending-off mass. For the 2020 edition, the two sailors Sébastien Destremau and Thomas Ruyant took a replica of the black virgin of Rocamadour in their boat. The remarkable icon of the Lot has not finished sailing around the world thanks to the Vendée Globe sailors!