The organisers of the Vendée Globe singlehanded around the world race have reconfirmed that the ninth edition will start as planned from Les Sables D’Olonne on November 8.
According to an official press release from the Board of Directors of SAEM Vendée: ‘almost all’ of the 35 prospective competitors have relaunched their boats and restarted their preparations for the iconic race.
However, of those 35 only 18 skippers are already officially registered at this point in time.
Of the remaining 17, seven still have to sail a 2,000-mile solo course and four need to compete in and finish the equivalent of a transatlantic race, while the other six need only to fully complete their registration paperwork.
The hard deadline for all 17 to be ready is September 1, 2020.
After the Covid 19 pandemic forced the cancellation of The Transat CIC and the New York – Vendée Les Sables d’Olonne, races, the IMOCA class has set up a brand new race supported by its headline partner, the Vendée department and the town of Les Sables d’Olonne.
The Vendée – Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne race is schedule to start on July 4, 2020 and will feature a 3600-mile course starting and finishing off Les Sables d’Olonne and with waypoints to the West of Iceland and the North of the Azores.
Vendee Globe registered skippers:
Fabrice Amedeo (Newrest – Arts & Fenêtres)
Romain Attanasio (Pure – Best Western)
Alexia Barrier (4myPlanet)
Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ IV)
Jérémie Beyou (Charal)
Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline – Artisans Artipôle)
Manuel Cousin (Groupe Sétin)
Clarisse Crémer (Banque Populaire X)
Charlie Dalin (Apivia)
Samantha Davies (GBR, Initiatives-Cœur)
Benjamin Dutreux (Water Family – Oceania Hôtels)
Kevin Escoffier (PRB)
Boris Herrmann (GER, Seaexplorer – Yacht Club de Monaco)
Jean le Cam (Yes we Cam !)
Stéphane le Diraison (Time for Oceans)
Miranda Merron (GBR, Campagne de France)
Giancarlo Pedote (ITA, Prysmian Group)
Alan Roura (SUI, La Fabrique).
17 skippers yet to finalise their registration:
Seven yet to sail an additional qualifying distance:
Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2)
Conrad Colman (USA and NZ, Ethical Racing)
Didac Costa (ESP, One Planet One Ocean)
Sébastien Destremau (AUS and FRA, Merci)
Sébastien Simon (Arkea – Paprec)
Alex Thomson (GBR, Hugo Boss)
Nicolas Troussel (Corum L’Epargne).
Four who have to sail a solo transatlantic race (or equivalent):
Isabelle Joschke (GER and FRA, Macsf)
Clément Giraud (Monsieur et Madame)
Kojiro Shiraishi (DGM Mori)
Armel Tripon (L’Occitane en Provence).
Six who have already completed their sailing requirements:
Ari Huusela (Stark)
Eric Nigon (Vers un monde sans Sida)
Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut)
Damien Seguin (Groupe Apicil)
Maxime Sorel (VandB – Mayenne)