Vendée Globe 2024 Sets Sail with Record Participation

Forty skippers, representing 11 nationalities, embark on the challenging solo circumnavigation from Les Sables-d’Olonne.

The 10th edition of the Vendée Globe began with a calm start, as light winds delayed the initial progress of the fleet.
Charlie Dalin, a pre-race favorite, quickly took the lead as the skippers faced their first significant weather challenge near Cape Finisterre.
This year's race features a record number of participants, with 40 skippers, including six women, from 11 different countries.
Notable participants include Damien Seguin, the first para-athlete to compete, and Violette Dorange, the youngest competitor at 23 years old.
Spectators came out in large numbers to see off the sailors, marking a return to the event's usual festive atmosphere after pandemic restrictions in previous years.