There were only 20 of them to take the start of the mythical race in 2012! This year, they will be 29 to set off from Les Sables d'Olonne for this round the world by the 3 capes in Imoca . A 50% increase in participation! It should be remembered that initially, only 27 skippers could participate in the race for logistical reasons (Port Olona could only accommodate a limited number of boats). Yves Auvinet, President of the SAEM Vendée had decided to open 3 additional places to allow all sailors whose "nautical obligations" were respected to participate.
In terms of the distribution between novices and experienced sailors, it's almost equal since there will be 14 novices and 15 repeat offenders. Various profiles and different objectives.
Record numbers of participation
5 skippers will try their luck in the Vendée Globe for the 4th edition e times, like Vincent Riou (PRB), Bertrand de Broc, Jean-Pierre Dick, Jean Le Cam and Alex Thomson. The latter two have already reached the podium, as has Armel le Cléac'h, who will be taking part in the race for the 3rd time e times.
"This will be my fourth Vendée Globe, but it's still hard to know what will happen once I'm in the race. I have learned from my previous participations that we have to expect the unexpected. But my goal is clear: to win the Vendée Globe says Alex Thomson.
An age difference of 43 years
The oldest competitor is almost triple the age of the youngest! This 8 ème this edition will bring together the youngest competitor in the history of the Vendée Globe, the Swiss Alan Roura, 23 years old, and the oldest, the American Rich Wilson, 66 years old.
Foils or old generation?
This round-the-world race will also be an opportunity to test the foils over a long distance. The appendages have already been tested on the Transat New York to Euro Vendée and on The Transat . They were 5 foilers to start on the first one, all launched in 2015 and it was one of them who won the race (Maître Coq and Jeremie Beyou). On The Transat Bakerly, it was also a foiler that took the first step of the podium (Banque Populaire and Armel le Cléac'h). A narrow victory, after a neck-and-neck race with PRB (Vincent Riou), an old generation Imoca boat.
"I was not far from victory four years ago (2nd place). We're resetting the meters and the goal for this edition is posted: to win!" said Armel le Cléac'h.
They will be seven skippers to set off on Imoca foils, load-bearing appendages that allow the hull to be lifted in the breeze on the beam, reducing the hydrodynamic drag and thus gaining in performance. Six of them will be aboard new foil boats (Jean-Pierre Dick, Pieter Heerema, Sébastien Josse, Morgan Lagravière, Armel Le Cléac'h, Alex Thomson), while Jeremie Beyou will be aboard Maître Coq, an old generation Imoca optimized in this sense.
"My team has taken on quite a challenge by installing foils on an old generation IMOCA. I took the boat in hand in record time, without suffering any damage and winning the New York-Vendée Transat. I'm starting the Vendée Globe with ambitions, but also with a lot of humility "explained Jeremie Beyou.
Ten nationalities represented
Even if the French are represented in large numbers in the Vendée Globe, the race also attracts many foreign sailors. Thus, 10 nationalities will be represented, a record since the Vendée Globe has never brought together so many countries.
Two continents will be represented for the first time, Asia with the Japanese Kojiro Shiraishi and Oceania with the New Zealander Conrad Colman. Ireland (Enda O'Coineen) and the Netherlands (Pieter Heerema) will also enter the race. Among the nine foreign skippers in the race, three are repeat offenders: Hungary's Nandor Fa, Great Britain's Alex Thomson and American Rich Wilson. Finally, two newcomers will represent Spain (Didac Costa) and Switzerland (Alan Roura).
"I am very honored to be part of the skippers who will take the start of the next Vendée Globe. As the first Asian to take part in the race, my main role will be to show the people of this continent the value and magnitude of this event explained Kojiro Shiraishi.
The 2016-2017 Vendée Globe line-up
4th participation
- Bertrand de Broc / MACSF (France - retired in 1992-1993 and 1996-1997, 9th in 2012-2013)
- Jean-Pierre Dick / StMichel-Virbac (France - 6th in 2004-2005, abandoned in 2008-2009, 4th in 2012-2013)
- Jean Le Cam / Finistère Mer Vent (France - 2nd in 2004-2005, abandoned in 2008-2009, 5th in 2012-2013)
- Vincent Riou / PRB (France - winner in 2004-2005, tied for 3rd in 2008-2009, retired in 2012-2013)
- Alex Thomson / Hugo Boss (Great Britain - retired in 2004-2005 and 2008-2009, 3rd in 2012-2013)
3rd participation
- Jérémie Beyou / Maître CoQ (France - abandoned in 2008-2009 and 2012-2013)
- Arnaud Boissières / La Mie Câline (France - 7th in 2008-2009 and 8th in 2012-2013)
- Kito de Pavant / Bastide Otio (France - abandoned in 2008-2009 and 2012-2013)
- Nandor Fa / Spirit of Hungary (Hungary - 5th in 1992-1993, retired in 1996-1997)
- Sébastien Josse / Edmond de Rothschild (France - 5th in 2004-2005, retired in 2008-2009)
- Armel Le Cléac'h / Banque Populaire VIII (France - 2nd in 2008-2009 and 2nd in 2012-2013)
2nd participation
- Louis Burton / Bureau Vallée (France - abandoned in 2012-2013)
- Tanguy de Lamotte / Initiatives - Coeur (France - 10th in 2012-2013)
- Yann Eliès / Quéguiner - Leucémie Espoir (France - abandoned in 2008-2009)
- Rich Wilson / Great American IV (USA)
- 9th in 2008-2009)
1st participation
- Fabrice Amedeo / Newrest - Matmut (France)
- Romain Attanasio / Mary Family - Etamine du Lys (France)
- Eric Bellion / COMMEUNSEULHOMME (France)
- Conrad Colman / 100% Natural Energy (New Zealand)
- Didac Costa / One Planet One Ocean (Spain)
- Sébastien Destremau / TechnoFirst - FaceOcean (France)
- Pieter Heerema / No Way Back (Netherlands)
- Morgan Lagravière / Safran (France)
- Stéphane Le Diraison / Compagnie du Lit - Boulogne Billancourt (France)
- Paul Meilhat / SMA (France)
- Enda O'Coineen / Kilcullen Voyager - Team Ireland (Ireland)
- Alan Roura / La Fabrique (Switzerland)
- Thomas Ruyant / Le Souffle du Nord for the Imagine project (France)
- Kojiro Shiraishi / Spirit of Yukoh (Japan)
