There were 29 in 2016 and there may be 37 in 2020?! The organization has just revealed the number of registrations, following the closing of registrations on November 1 at midnight. And this 2020 edition already looks like a record?! Within this small group of forty applicants, there are regulars, but also hazuths, foreign navigators and especially many women navigators.
Nine latest generation IMOCAs
There will not be eight of them, but neuf?! Yann Eliès has just been added to the list of participants. For his 3rd Vendée Globe, he should have a new boat, but he has not yet revealed either his partner or the chosen architect.
At his side, we will find:
- Jérémie Beyou (Charal),
- Sébastien Simon (Arkéa - Paprec),
- Charlie Dalin (Apivia),
- Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss),
- Thomas Ruyant (Advens for Cybersecurity),
- Kojiro Shiraishi (DMGMORI),
- Armel Tripon (L'Occitane)
- Nicolas Troussel (Corum L'Epargne)
These nine skippers will sail on high-performance racing machines capable of speeds of 35 knots, and built entirely around their foils.
Today, it is not an architect who is the absolute master of this small high-tech fleet, but four. Each of the architects was able to propose a different vision of these flying boats. Armel Tripon, for his part, has chosen to entrust the design of his boat to Sam Manuard, authors of promising drawings in both Mini and Class40.
- VPLP: Charal, Hugo Boss and DMG Mori
- Guillaume Verdier: Apivia and Advens for Cybersecurity
- Juan Kouyoumdjian: Arkéa Paprec and Corum L'Epargne
- Sam Manuard: L'Occitane
Ten IMOCAs with older generation foils
In addition to the nine foil boats built for the Vendée Globe 2020, ten other 60-foot monohulls will be equipped with lifting appendages. There are several generations of boats, from the most recent in 2015 to the oldest in 2007.
- Newrest - Art and Windows (Fabrice Amédéo),
- Master CoQ (Yannick Bestaven),
- Valley 2 Office (Louis Burton),
- Prysmian Group (Giancarlo Pedote),
- Malizia (Boris Herrmann),
- PRB (Kevin Escoffier),
- Initiatives C?ur (Sam Davies),
- MACSF (Isabelle Joschke),
- La Mie Câline Artipôle Les Artisans (Arnaud Boissières),
- The Factory (Alan Roura).
Eighteen IMOCAs with drifts
In view of what is happening on the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 and the results of the year's races, we must not neglect the potential of the drifting IMOCAs. While it is likely that we will no longer see the birth of IMOCA without foils, these ultra versatile and proven boats are giving the brand new foilers a hard time to twist. There will be 18 of them in the Vendée Globe and some of them are capable of doing well.
- Banque Populaire X (Clarisse Crémer), winner of the 2018 Route du Rhum,
- Groupe Apicil (Damien Seguin),
- Finistère Mer Vent (Jean Le Cam).
Maxime Sorel (V&B Mayenne), Manu Cousin (Setin Group), Stéphane Le Diraison (Time for Oceans) or Romain Attanasio (Pure) can also hope to get involved in the fight.
For others, the Vendée Globe is a splendid adventure that consists in completing a non-assisted, non-stop round the world voyage. Sébastien Destremau (Face Océan) arrived 124 days after the start or Conrad Colman who managed to reach the finish line despite a dismasting off Portugal know what the situation is like. Some skippers also carry a strong message, as is the case with Erik Nigon (Towards a World Without AIDS).
Women in numbers!
The number of women navigators will continue to grow. There are six of them to apply with Sam Davies at the head of the deck, who has sailed around the world several times, both solo and crewed. Isabelle Joschke will be at the helm of her completely transformed IMOCA.
Miranda Merron (Campaign of France) and Pip Hare (Pip Hare Ocean Racing) will strengthen the British forces. Alexia Barrier will be at the head of the oldest boat in the fleet and Clarisse Crémer will bring a fresh wind to the fleet.
