The 10th edition of the Vendée Globe is already showing significant increases across the board
by Vendée Globe Media 5 Nov 07:32 PST
10 November 2024
With less than a week remaining before Sunday’s kickoff, the 2024 Vendée Globe is already shattering all records!
With a historic 40 skippers at the start line, 11 nationalities represented, and 360,000 visitors enjoying the Race Village experience during the opening week—a 20% increase compared to 2016—this event is surpassing all expectations.
The viewership of the race, through both TV and online platforms, is also seeing a substantial rise. Now more than ever, the Vendée Globe has established itself as an unmissable international sporting event.
Record attendance at the village: +20% visitors in the initial week
During the initial week, the Vendée Globe village has reported unprecedented attendance, welcoming more than 360,000 visitors, which represents an increase of more than 20% compared to the 2016 numbers; the 2020 edition has been affected by Covid-19.
Alain Leboeuf, president of the Vendée Globe and the Vendée Department, remarks: “After eight years of anticipation, the public’s enthusiasm for the race is clear, and we have had to enhance our resources to accommodate this overwhelming influx.”
In 2016, the village drew a total of 1.15 million visitors throughout the entire starting period; the numbers from this initial week indicate a potential new record. Additionally, TV coverage for the start is expected to increase by nearly 50% in terms of broadcasters.
The live broadcast of the Vendée Globe 2024’s start is experiencing a significant rise, with 60 broadcasters planned to air the live TV signal, up from 41 during the last edition—an increase of 46%.
Among these, there are 19 French broadcasters (up from 13 in 2020) and 41 international broadcasters (up from 28 in 2020), emphasizing the event’s growing international reach.
Web traffic: +24% visits to vendeeglobe.org
Web visits are also climbing. Since the village’s opening, there has been a 24% increase in traffic to the vendeeglobe.org website compared to the same period in 2020.
Moreover, on the official Virtual Regatta game, there are nearly 20% more registered participants compared to this date in 2020.
These figures reflect the rising interest in the Vendée Globe and highlight its significance as a key sporting event, making this emblematic occasion accessible to an increasingly broad and diverse audience.
A rich and diverse sports field: 11 nationalities at the start
Forty skippers will be competing in the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, a record number that underscores the immense enthusiasm for the race. The wide international variety of the participants adds a unique richness to the event, and beyond the entry size, the competitive level is exceptionally high with sailors and vessels better prepared than ever!
This new record of 11 nationalities represented—compared to nine in 2020—shows that the 2024 Vendée Globe has reached a new level of international appeal, drawing skippers from all around the world. The 14 international skippers, which make up over a third of the fleet, exemplify a growing inclusivity, firmly establishing the Vendée Globe as a human adventure on a truly global scale.
