"The Vendée Globe 2020 will start on November 8th." By this title in a press release, the organizers of the solo world tour confirmed this Tuesday evening that the big start of the 9th edition will take place on November 8, at the initial date, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. An interview with Yves Auvinet, head of the departmental council and of SAEM Vendée, saying that all the hypotheses were under study, had sown doubt last week. End of the suspense, so this Tuesday evening, unless there are changes or health requirements, of course.
"The presence of the public is therefore important to us"
The Vendée Globe“The start of the next Vendée Globe is being prepared in an uncertain health and economic context. The Vendée Departmental Council and the SAEM Vendée are doing everything to ensure the good performance of this 9th edition of the Vendée Globe in conjunction with its partners, the IMOCA Class skippers, their sponsors and the public authorities, adds the press release. Maintaining the race with a start on November 8 is our goal and everything is being done to that end. From a sporting point of view, nothing stands in the way, of course subject to the opinion of the State. However, the Vendée Globe, which is also a popular event, is a public good that belongs to the Vendeans and the Vendéennes: the presence of the public is therefore important to us. The organization therefore studies all the scenarios making possible the presence of the public in a health and economic context which nobody knows the evolution. The decision to maintain the Race PC at Les Sables d'Olonne for the duration of the race will also help allow as many people as possible to fully experience the Vendée Globe adventure. ”
Head for Iceland
The thirty sailors who are candidates for departure will therefore be able to breathe and continue to actively prepare for their world tour, after a few weeks spent at a standstill due to the fault of the Covid-19 and confinement. It remains to be able to carry out at least one preparatory race (and for certain qualifiers). “The organization of the Vendée Globe is progressing in conjunction with IMOCA (the class of 60-foot open boats) with the desire to adapt certain deadlines for skippers, in particular the registration deadline extended to September 1 as well as the organization of a solo preparation test this summer, ”added the press release.
A race called Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne should thus start off Sables d'Olonne on July 4 for a route that will take sailors to Iceland, then to the Azores with a return to Vendée after ten days of navigation as unusual as it is formative of all kinds.
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