The path to the Vendée Globe start is tough – just ask Ollie Heer and Conrad Colman
by Ed Gorman / IMOCA Globe Series 23 Oct 02:41 PDT
Conrad Colman / MS Amlin © Thomas Deregniaux / Qaptur / MS AMLIN
There are currently 40 skippers with their boats at the Vendée Globe race village in Les Sables d’Olonne, preparing for the start on November 10th, each with stories of overcoming challenges to partake in this quadrennial event.
We interviewed two of them—New Zealand/American sailor Conrad Colman and Swiss newcomer Ollie Heer—about their experiences reaching this milestone, both facing obstacles that could deter less resolute individuals from achieving their aspirations.
Colman, 40, who is married to a French woman, resides in Lorient with two young children. Over the past three years, he has battled tirelessly to secure commercial sponsorship for his second Vendée Globe after finishing 16th in the 2016-’17 race. He had previously completed a round-the-world journey in the Global Ocean Race in Class 40s and the Barcelona World Race.
This charismatic Kiwi admits that financial concerns have kept him awake many nights filled with worry and effort. He spends his days on the boat, participates in family life each evening, then continues seeking sponsors while others are asleep.
“It truly affects everything,” he told the Class during his delivery sail to Les Sables d’Olonne. “You should not speak to my wife for this article! This situation absorbs all aspects of my life. I keep wondering, ‘when will this get easier?’ I would have thought that with my international profile, past race experience, and an invitation for my fourth voyage around the globe, along with a story of resilience and zero emissions, attracting support would be easier. However, building a Vendée Globe campaign is a challenging endeavor for anyone, regardless of the timing.”
Colman is certain that the greatest challenge is reaching the Vendée Globe starting line rather than racing it. “The race does not intimidate me at all,” he shared. “Part of that is because I finally embrace the purity of this event that has always drawn me—once the cannon fires, all responsibility is on me. The tough part is delivering 500 presentations, pouring my heart into each one, yet not seeing a direct connection between my efforts and the rewards like I do aboard. It hinges on chance and meeting the right person at the right moment, which has been particularly difficult this year.”
Heer has faced similar hurdles, struggling not only for financial backing for his maiden Vendée Globe but also battling to ensure qualification while completing the final 1,300 miles of The Transat CIC without power post-knockdown.
His journey has been so arduous that reaching Les Sables d’Olonne seems surreal. “I’m not entirely sure where to start,” he remarked when asked about his challenges. “Four years ago, I was here as Alex Thomson’s boat captain dreaming of competing in the Vendée, and now, four years later, I’m here with my own boat, which is incredible. But it demanded a great deal. People often underestimate this. Even when they hear how difficult it was, they struggle to grasp the reality.”
Heer started on the back foot, missing some early races in the cycle, retiring from the Transat Jacques Vabre, and unable to participate in the Retour à la Base. However, every setback and the negativity he encountered fueled his resolve. “The more people doubt me or belittle me, the more motivated I become to prove them wrong. I simply thought, ‘I want this even more. I want to succeed,'” he explained.
When we asked for his advice for young dreamers about the Vendée Globe, he said, “First off, go for it if it’s your dream. Do not hesitate. But don’t overlook the business aspect. You’re a sailor one-third or, if lucky, half the time. The other portion involves being a businessman and you need to embrace that side too. You must possess certain skills in this area or you will face challenges, I believe. But definitely pursue it…”
We posed the same question to Colman, who humorously reflected on his experiences. “Choose your parents wisely; being a millionaire would certainly help,” he quipped. “I keep an eye on the EuroMillions lottery, occasionally thinking, ‘wow, that could solve all my problems.’ There’s frustration knowing I have so much to offer… I’ve built a strong resume as a skipper, am a skilled communicator, and have an interesting project. I just wish I could find others equally passionate about it.”
Colman’s challenges have lessened somewhat—though not entirely—thanks to signing a title sponsorship with insurance and reinsurance firm MS Amlin, with offices in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and the UK. Nevertheless, he is still seeking additional support right up to the starting gun in less than three weeks. “It’s not too late,” he jokes, “include that in your headline—it’s not too late to join me.”
One consequence of the struggle on land to take to the sea is that Colman sometimes finds it challenging to adapt to racing. “It takes me a while to shift gears from business to sport because I’m carrying a lot of stress. If anything goes wrong on the boat—inevitably, given it’s an IMOCA— all my worries resurface. I think, ‘Oh no, how will I afford to fix this and keep the boat operational, let alone think about optimization?'”
Heer has been luckier, securing title sponsorship in July with Swiss vitamin and micronutrient company Antistress AG, also known as Burgerstein Vitamine. This partnership will cover most of his costs, with his boat displaying the slogan “Tut Gut,” translating to “Good for You.” The agreement was made late, and prep work on the boat continues during the journey to Les Sables d’Olonne.
“I’d be lying if I said I’m fully rested and in peak shape for the Vendée start,” he confessed. “The past two-and-a-half years have been incredibly intense. Yet, cruising up the channel in Les Sables and docking my boat in the race village is such an exhilarating experience that it almost overshadows the difficulties we’ve faced these past years. I’m eagerly anticipating the event, and just thinking about it energizes me, leaving me full of energy and ready to go.”
Despite their rigorous experiences, both sailors aspire to participate again in 2028. Heer is already strategizing his next campaign and considering entering The Ocean Race in 2027. Colman, on the other hand, exhibited pragmatic realism regarding what would be his third Vendée Globe.
“It depends on the project,” he stated. “If I establish the right connections with partners and create a robust campaign from the beginning, then absolutely, I have another four years to give. That has always been my dream and continues to be. However, emotionally I can’t endure another challenging four years. It’s unfair to my wife and kids. I must find more balance and stability, which I can only achieve outside my current highly stressful circumstances.”
All Access | The IMOCA Webseries
Let’s explore the exciting preparations for the Vendée Globe. For IMOCA skippers, 2024 is a pivotal year, representing the culmination of their hard work. Their dream of solo sailing around the world begins with reaching the starting line. ALL ACCESS is the web series by IMOCA, created in collaboration with Harken, designed to immerse you in the lives of the skippers and their teams as they prepare intensely for the monumental challenge awaiting at year’s end.
Watch the latest episode here:
