Vendée Globe Skippers Divert to La Rochelle as Storm Herminia Hits

Severe weather conditions force Benjamin Dutreux and Clarisse Crémer to bypass the traditional Sables-d’Olonne arrival route for safety.

Storm Herminia, with winds exceeding 130 km/h and 10-meter waves, has made the Sables-d’Olonne entry channel too dangerous for skippers.
Benjamin Dutreux finished 10th and Clarisse Crémer 11th in the Vendée Globe but were redirected to La Rochelle for safety after crossing the finish line.
The unprecedented decision to skip the traditional arrival at Sables-d’Olonne highlights the severity of the storm's impact on the French Atlantic coast.
The Vendée Globe race village at Sables-d’Olonne was closed to the public due to the hazardous weather conditions.
The race was won by Charlie Dalin on January 14, with Dutreux and Crémer among the last skippers completing the global sailing challenge.