10th Vendée Globe Has Started!
by Vendée Globe Media 10 Nov 05:32 PST
10 November 2024
The official launch of the Vendée Globe occurred today at 13:02. The skippers have embarked on the most renowned and demanding circumnavigation, with a distance of over 24,000 nautical miles (45,000 km) to sail solo, non-stop, and unaided.
Only one vessel, Conrad Colman (MS Amlin), was unable to cross the starting line punctually due to a technical issue (further details to come). Gentle winds ranging from 4 to 7 knots and brilliant sunlight provided an easy start to the race, following a notably emotional morning.
The sailors untied their lines between 08:00 and 10:00, after bidding farewell to family and friends at the docks. They then traversed the famous Les Sables d’Olonne canal in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators who assembled early for the event. The last crew members on board jumped into the sea to be rescued by support vessels five minutes before the race began, leaving skippers alone to concentrate entirely on the competition.
The wind is predicted to pick up slightly later today, as the competitors prepare to face the first of many solitary nights on the expansive oceans.
