"A particular context"
Those were the words that began the speech presenting the 2020 Vendée Globe by Yves Auvinet, President of the SAEM Vendée, the organiser of the single-handed, non-stop, non-assisted round the world race. He made a point of thanking the skippers, teams, sponsors, the media and institutions for their involvement in this great round the world race, which takes place every four years.
"I'm optimistic for this ninth edition of the Vendée Globe, which will be magnificent. First of all, I would like to thank the skippers, who have been preparing this human adventure for a long time, which is a fine symbol in this complicated situation. This edition is marked by our determination to stay the course and our confidence in the future and to make headway in the ocean.
We are working with the department and the region to adopt good practices. The Vendée Globe is a single-handed, non-stop, non-assisted round-the-world race with a very high sporting standard. Taking part in the Vendée Globe is already a victory, reaching the podium is a feat and winning a consecration.
The Vendée Globe is a public asset, which owns the Vendée, but it is also an event, a collective human adventure that is inseparable from its public. It's an adventure that requires self-sacrifice and daring."
A record edition
This 9th edition - which will be sponsored by Christian Prudhomme - director of the Tour de France - is already shaping up to be a record on several levels. Already by the number of participants. There will be 33 skippers to take the start of the race compared to 29 in 2016. But also by the number of women, who will be 6 to take part in the round-the-world race, never before vu?!
For the other figures, we will add the participation of 8 new boats, 19 foilers and 9 nationalities represented.
Jacques Caraës, race director: "It's a record-breaking edition with a top-notch line-up. We've taken it up a notch with each edition and today the boats have become technological and sporting. We'll have 19 foilers compared to 7 in 2016. It's an obvious peculiarity to tell ourselves that the race will be committed and difficult.
First of all, we must thank the architects and design offices for their work. The boats are both technological and reliable and the work of the skippers has proved it in the races that have just taken place. The boats are ready, as are the skippers. It will be a committed competition.
This year, we will have 6 women, compared to a maximum of 2 in previous editions. They have their place in this race and have shown it in recent races, finishing on the podium of the Azimut Challenge. The Vendée Globe is a race of strategy and endurance and there is something for everyone" details the race director again.
A village rethought
Despite the context, the installation of the village on the esplanade of Port Olonna has already begun. The Vendée Globe square has been renovated and enlarged by 40% and the town has already been decorated with bulwarks in the colours of the race. The latter will open its doors on 17th October and will remain open after the start of the race on 8th November.
If we find in this space of 30?000 m2 everything that makes the success of the village - the Race HQ, the Globe square, the Vog bar, the tourism pavilion, the culinary pavilion or the pontoons hosting the 33 boats, access will be highly regulated.
Precautions to be taken
"For several months we have been working on opening the village in a pandemic context. In collaboration with the prefect of the Vendée, the regional health agency and the inter-ministerial crisis centre, we have drawn up a health protocol, which is currently being finalised, so that as many people as possible can enjoy this Vendée Globe" explains Yves Auvinet.
Here are the conditions in place:
- Wearing a mask is mandatory
- Respect for barrier gestures
- Reception limited to 5?000 people with real-time flow management
- Imposed direction of traffic
- Reservation to access the village via the website and the application.
As for the skippers, they will have to respect a confinement, just like their entourage and their team and pass a battery of PCR tests.
