Vendee Globe start confirmed 8 November
Fleet at start of the Vendee Globe, in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, on November 6th, 2016 – Photo Jean-Marie Liot / DPPI / Vendee Globe
Flotte au départ du Vendée Globe, aux Sables d’Olonne le 6 Novembre 2016 – Photo Jean-Marie Liot / DPPI / Vendee Globe
The start of the 9th Vendée Globe will take place on November 8th, off Sables d’Olonne, the organisers, the Board of Directors of SAEM Vendée, have confirmed.
The SAEM Vendée also took the decision to set up a Start Village, which will open on Saturday 17th October. It will turn into the Race Village on 8th November, and then the Finish Village to welcome the skippers home. The arrangements for the general public will be adapted to public health requirements which may affect sporting events and they will have to be approved by the relevant authorities.
As it stands, 18 skippers (out of 35 candidates) have completed the full registration process.
Seven skippers and their boats have to complete an additional 2,000-mile solo qualifier approved by the Race Directors. Initially planned for 1st July, the period during which they have to complete this additional qualifying distance has been pushed back to 1st September. This is also the date on which registrations close.
Who’s ready?
18 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 inscription:
- Four have 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) and Nicolas Troussel (Corum L’Epargne).
- Four have to sail a solo transatlantic race (or its equivalent) to complete their qualification: Isabelle Joschke (GER and FRA, Macsf), Clément Giraud (Monsieur et Madame), Kojiro Shiraishi (DGM Mori) and Armel Tripon (L’Occitane en Provence).
- Six 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)
