Pip Hare - Medallia
The British sailor Pip Hare has only been racing single-handed for 10 years. Aboard Medallia (ex-Super Bigou, Bernard Stamm's former boat), she can't wait to enjoy a breath of fresh air.
"After the lockdown, this world tour is going to be really inspiring for the people following us. It's been very difficult, we've lost a lot of international sporting events. As a result, people are interested in other types of sport that they wouldn't have shown interest in before. I hope to show them that this sport is fascinating."
Boris Herrmann - Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco
If he is the first German sailor to take part in the Vendée Globe, Boris Herrmann is hoping to be at the front of the fleet.
"It's an honour to be the first German to take part in this beautiful regatta. It's been a dream for about 20 years. I'm expanding the German fan club for single-handed racing and it's really nice to have a large community following you.
In addition to the competition, I also have a commitment to the planet. This is a rare opportunity to plot oceanographic data. I have a laboratory on board and I work with scientists. I'm happy to make myself useful for science and to carry this project."
Ari Huusela - Stark
This pilot will be the first Finnish skipper to take part in the Vendée Globe. For his first circumnavigation of the globe, he will be sailing on Dee Caffari's old boat, which already has three round the world voyages on the clock. Although he made his debut in the Mini Transat, he then tried his hand at the Class40 before switching to IMOCA.
"It's been a dream for a long time. I've always loved boats and the Vendée Globe, but I've been taking it one step at a time."
Isabelle Joschke - MACSF
After several years in the Figaro Bénéteau, the Franco-German finally returns to the open sea and embarks on her first solo circumnavigation of the world, non-stop and without assistance.
"I'm full of confidence with my result on the Azimuth Challenge. The course to get to the Vendée Globe is long and not always easy. We've had our ups and downs with MACSF. But we're finishing with a little bit of a high, as we can have some great successes. I'm ready for this start.
This year, we are 6 women at the start. It's the right way, but it's still a bit long. It's the first time that we've been so well represented, but at the same time we're only 6 out of 33..
It's totally involved in my project to create vocations with my association horizon mixité. In fact, we sail with women on the spinnaker. We're keen to show that women walk as well as men in sailing as elsewhere."
Miranda Merron - French Campaign
After several crewed races, Briton Miranda Merron is launching herself on the Class40 circuit alongside Halvard Mabire, her companion. After a 13th place in the 2018 Route du Rhum and a 23rd place in the 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre, she is embarking on the biggest challenge of her life.
"The Vendée Globe is the greatest challenge of a lifetime and not just a career. It's the race of a lifetime. I'm a long way from doing this round the world on my own. It's just a huge défi?! Not many people have done it, and in my career as a sailor I've never gone this far alone. Of course I know the Deep South, is that an asset or inconvénient?? As in all things, we forget the bad times and keep only the good.
Either way, you're spoiled when you're at sea alone. The world is reduced to a boat, the sea and the sky. It's a joy to live this way for probably 3 months."
Giancarlo Pedote - Prysmian Group
He will be the fifth Italian in history to take the start of the 2020 Vendée Globe. And just like Boris Herrmann, he intends to prove that he is a serious outsider. For this philosophy graduate, the Vendée Globe is a competition, but also a great adventure.
"It's a moment of solitude, of confinement, but also of contact with the deepest part of ourselves. I'm going to put into practice everything I studied in college. I'm going to reflect on the essence of the projects that we value.
I have a real sports project with my sponsor Prysmian Group for 13 years. We've come a long way since my debut in the Mini Transat. Little by little, I started dreaming of taking part in the Vendée Globe and it's very important to be with you today. We're taking a step forward with this race, we're embarking on a great adventure, which we're going to be able to share with everyone.
Apart from my sports project, I'm also involved in a humanitarian project to bring water and electricity to countries that don't have it."
