Passionate about the Vendée Globe, are you? And not just you, by the way, but your children too! But 8 November 2020, the start date of the 9th edition of this race, is still a long way off. To calm your impatience, perhaps also to ease the boredom linked to the current confinement, this series of short videos comes at just the right time!
Children's voices..
Offered by Vendée Tourisme, the department's tourism promotion body, they feature a group of children aged 5 to 10 years old from schools in Sables-d'Olonne and La Roche-sur-Yon. All interested in the famous race, they set off to meet the skippers taking part in the Vendée Globe. Microphone in hand, they ask questions, some very spontaneous ones for the younger ones, and others a little more prepared for the older ones. But there is no censorship! This is what makes the exchanges between famous skippers and passionate children, interesting as well as amusing... As proof of this, these questions are taken at random, or almost at random... Can whales kick the boat? When you are at sea how do you send a letter to someone you like? Has your boat ever been overturned? What do you do if you have nothing to eat?
Christmas launch..
For Christmas, Les Petits reporters du Vendée-Globe had offered their public the trailer of their series. The theme was... Santa Claus of course! And the main question: "How does Santa Claus put the presents on the Vendée Globe boats? Because on 25th December 2020, they will all be out on the open sea! Sam Davies and Jean Le Cam tried to explain..
It is then every month that the little reporters meet their fans of all ages. And this until the start in November! In total, there should be nearly twelve episodes. These are and will be broadcast via the social networks and the Vendée Tourisme website, but also via those of the SAEM, the organiser of the Vendée Globe.
With Samantha Davies..
In January, for episode 1, it was Samantha Davies that the little reporters met in Lorient, in Morbihan. She is 45 years old, and made her first world tour at the age of 22. She sails on an 18-metre long IMOCA monohull. Her project is called "Initiatives C?ur" (Heart Initiatives): she supports the association Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque (Patronage Heart Surgery), which helps children with heart disease. On the menu, questions such as
How do you win hearts? Do you fish? How do you not sleep?.
With Jean Le Cam..
In February, for episode 2, the little reporters went to visit Jean Le Cam in Port la Forêt, in Southern Brittany. He is a skipper and a fan of the Vendée Globe! He raced it for the first time in 2004-2005. He took his young visitors to the hangar where his boat is stored... The little reporters didn't come back, and asked him a variety of questions... How do you build your boat? Why do they call you King John? How do you wash your boat? What's a shroud? How do you do it if you're hurt or have a little boo-boo?...
With Arnaud Boissières..
For March and Episode 3, the little Vendée Globe reporters have gone to the start and finish of the race in Les Sables-d'Olonne. It was Arnaud Boissières who welcomed them. Nicknamed "Cali", he finished 7th in the first Vendée Globe he sailed in 2008! He showed the children his boat, La Mie Câline, in his workshop. And they were not afraid to ask questions... Why do they call you Cali? What do you eat on your boat? How did you experience your arrival in the Vendée Globe? Do you have lights in all the rooms? What do you do with the ready-made food bags? Where do you put them?.
Next episodes
In April, it's Benjamin Dutreux who will be on stage for episode 4. episode 5 will be about the foil. The Little Reporters should go to the Atlantic Wakepark, to discover the novelty 2020 of this Vendean nautical base: the wake foil. Kézako? Wakeboarding with a foil to rise above the water like the boats in the Vendée Globe! Afterwards, a short tour at Beneteau's is planned for them to understand how a foil works. The filming will be organised after the end of the confinement...And the skipper chosen for the 6th episode is Fabrice Amadeo. Other sailors will be met over the months
See you in the Vendée Globe village
From 17th October 2020, when the Vendée Globe village will open, and until the start on 8th November, the Little Reporters should be on deck: the Vendée Tourisme pavilion, at the entrance to the village, will have children as its main theme this year... precisely! Videos, entertainment, meetings with the skippers... on the programme.
