A start in abeyance
The start of the 2020 Vendée Globe is due to take place on 8th November. In this context of the health and economic crisis, the outcome was more than uncertain and the organisers had to decide by 15th June at the latest whether to hold the event. Firstly, because the launching of the IMOCA boats - the 60-foot monohulls aboard which the skippers will set off on their single-handed round the world voyage - has been delayed. A delay which penalizes the training sessions.
In addition to this delay in planning, the preparatory races that were supposed to enable certain skippers to qualify - notably the Transat CIC - have been cancelled in response to the containment decreed by the State.
Finally, because the state of health emergency - in force until at least 24 July - prohibits large gatherings. However, the Vendée Globe is a popular event that is extremely popular and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every four years to the pontoons in Port Olona, in Les Sables-d'Olonne.
Adaptations for the smooth running of the event
The Vendée Departmental Council and the SAEM Vendée - organisers of the round-the-world race - are currently studying different scenarios for the public to be present on site. The Race HQ will be set up in Les Sables-d'Olonne for the duration of the race, to enable as many people as possible to follow the race. During the previous edition in 2016, the Race HQ was based in Paris, on the banks of the Seine.
Collaborative work with the IMOCA class
In order not to penalise the skippers who have not yet definitively validated their entry (there are 18 out of 35), the organisation has pushed back the deadline to 1st September. The latter must now qualify by sailing as much as possible.
In this sense, a single-handed event will take place this summer to replace the preparatory race that was to be held in June. This Vendée-Arctic-Les Sables-d'Olonne race is due to start on 4th July off Sables-d'Olonne to reach the Arctic Circle off Iceland, then towards the Azores with a return to the starting point around 10 days later.
