No other region comes close

While the community of Newport has a buzz prior to the biennial Bermuda Race, and spectators are drawn to South Head for the start of the Sydney Hobart Race, no region comes close to the energy every four years in Vendée, France.

The Vendée Globe – the elite solo, non-stop race round the world in IMOCAs – stands alone. It’s been four months since Charlie Dalin won the 10th edition, but the community will again come alive to celebrate this epic journey and pay tribute to the skippers of the 2024 edition, during a spectacular evening on May 10 filled with emotion and festivity.

The legendary channel in Les Sables-d’Olonne will burst into life with a grand nautical parade featuring boats adorned with music and lights. At the heart of this procession, the 40 race skippers will be cheered as the heroes of an extraordinary adventure, surrounded by a fleet of iconic vessels symbolizing the region’s maritime spirit.

Throughout the evening, a high-energy artistic program will electrify the ambiance: fiery percussion, choreographed performances, DJ sets, and visual shows will dazzle the crowd.

The magic will reach its peak with a breathtaking aerial show: a thousand drones will light up the sky in a hypnotic light ballet, followed by a monumental fireworks display. This grand evening will celebrate the symbolic power of the Vendée Globe: an extraordinary human and maritime odyssey, marked by self-transcendence, a spirit of adventure, and a boundless passion for the oceans.

Vendée Globe 2024-25 Final Results – Top Ten
1. Charlie Dalin (FRA): 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes, 49 seconds
2. Yoann Richomme (FRA): 65 days, 18 hours, 10 minutes, 2 seconds
3. Sébastien Simon (FRA): 67 days, 12 hours, 25 minutes, 37 seconds
4. Jérémie Beyou (FRA): 74 days, 12 hours, 56 minutes, 54 seconds
5. Paul Meilhat (FRA): 74 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes, 15 seconds
6. Nicolas Lunven (FRA): 75 days, 07 hours, 49 minutes, 41 seconds
7. Thomas Ruyant (FRA): 75 days, 16 hours, 47 minutes, 27 seconds
8. Justine Mettraux (SUI): 76 days, 01 hour, 36 minutes, 52 seconds
9. Sam Goodchild (GBR): 76 days, 02 hours, 01 minutes, 45 seconds
10. Benjamin Dutreux (FRA): 77 days, 03 hours, 39 minutes, 24 seconds

Race updates – Tracker – Ranking – Arrival times – Facebook

Attrition:
Nov. 15: Maxime Sorel (FRA), V and B – Monbana – Mayenne, ankle injury, mast damage
Dec. 4: Louis Burton (FRA), Bureau Vallée, rigging failure
Dec. 15: Pip Hare (GBR), Medallia, dismasted
Dec. 16: Szabolcs Weöres (HUN), New Europe, broken D2 shroud
Dec. 30: Yannick Bestaven (FRA), Maître CoQ V, steerage damage
Jan. 12: Éric Bellion (FRA), STAND AS ONE – Altavia, broken J2 forestay pin
Jan. 30: Arnaud Boissières (FRA), La Mie Câline, dismasted
Mar. 8: Denis Van Weynbergh (BEL), D’ieteren Group, missed time limit

The Vendée Globe, raced in the 60-foot IMOCA, is the elite race round the world, solo, non-stop, and without assistance. On November 10, 40 skippers started the 2024-25 edition which begins and ends in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.

Armel Le Cléac’h, winning in 2017, previously held the record for the 24,300 nm course of 74 days 03 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds. Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux in 2001 and 2009. This is tenth running of the race.