Vendée Globe: A Summary After One Month of Racing
by Vendée Globe media 10 Dec 09:41 PST
10 December 2024
One month into the Vendée Globe © Justine Mettraux
After one month of competition, the Vendée Globe highlights its immense popularity, sporting achievement, and media resonance. With a record number of visitors to the start village, historic audience figures, and unmatched sporting feats thus far, this 10th edition is making a strong statement.
THE VILLAGE: RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCE
During the three weeks the village was open, 1.3 million visitors came to Les Sables d’Olonne, with over 350,000 attending the start on November 10, leading to a total of 1.65 million. This marks a record turnout, a 10% increase from 2016 (with 2020 affected by the Covid-19 situation). This reflects the public’s enthusiasm for this iconic event.
Alain Leboeuf, the Vendée Globe president, expressed pleasure at this achievement: “These numbers affirm the extraordinary fame of the Vendée Globe. This connection between the public and the skippers is unparalleled. The excitement for the Vendée Globe has never been higher!”
THE START: A SMALL SCREEN SUCCESS
With 68 broadcasters, including 47 international channels, the start attracted a global audience. In France alone, 10 million viewers tuned in to watch the start live, achieving an unprecedented audience share of 76%. Throughout the day, 22 million French viewers watched coverage of the event.
A FIRST MONTH OF INTENSE COMPETITION ON THE WATER
On the water, the 2024 Vendée Globe showcases an exhilarating contest across the fleet. While the race leader is already navigating the Indian Ocean, the last competitors are just departing the South Atlantic, separated by over 5,000 miles. Each sailor is battling fiercely. French skipper Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) distinguished himself with an impressive record in the South Atlantic: 615.33 miles in a single day, averaging 25.64 knots. Unfortunately, he experienced foil damage in the Indian Ocean.
Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) also set a record for the segment from Cape of Good Hope to Cape Leeuwin (new time: 9d 22h 27min), solidifying his position as a strong leader. However, experience from past Vendée Globe races shows that nothing is certain; this long-distance race can take unexpected turns!
Despite a rapid pace, only two retirements have occurred among the record-setting fleet of 40 entrants: Maxime Sorel (VandB – Monbana – Mayenne) and Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée), illustrating advancements in boat reliability and the effectiveness of the strengthened qualification program.
In contrast, during the 2020 race, there were five retirements after a month among 33 boats. In 2016, five retirements were noted from 29 boats, while in 2012, seven retirements occurred from 20 boats.
A THRILLING RACE, FOLLOWED CLOSELY ON LAND
Year after year, the Vendée Globe strengthens its reputation as a must-see event and enhances its attractiveness to the public. Public familiarity with the race now stands at 46%, a notable 7-point increase from 2020. This rising popularity is accompanied by a more positive perception: 70% of French people express favorable views of the event, gaining 6 points. These statistics underscore the unique ability of the Vendée Globe to unite and motivate through a blend of sports achievements and human stories.
The digital engagement reflects this growth:
3.2 billion impressions and 421 million people reached across social media.
47 million visits were recorded on the official website, a 92% increase compared to 2020.
150 million page views, a rise of 67% compared to 2020.
The official app had 522,000 downloads, a 49% increase from 2020.
One month after the race began, this 10th iteration of the Vendée Globe is poised to break multiple records, both in competitive and popularity terms!
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