Vendée Globe 2024, how to watch the start of the IMOCA round-the-world race?

© Jean-Marie Liot / Alea

The Vendée Globe is a non-stop, non-assisted, single-handed round-the-world race held every 4 years. On November 10, 2024, at 13:02 sharp, 40 solo sailors will set off from Les Sables-d'Olonne, winding the globe around the 3 capes before returning to the starting town. This event, which attracts thousands of spectators, can be followed from land, at sea or via the media. Recap.

The 10th edition of the Vendée Globe will start on November 10, 2024 from Les Sables-d'Olonne. Every year, the event is a huge success. this year, 2 million visitors are expected to visit the village, which will close its doors on the evening of the start. In 2020, over 1.3 million viewers followed the start live on television and social networks, with broadcasts in France and abroad. As a reminder, during the last edition of the race, which was held in complete confinement, the prefecture imposed a curfew from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., when the IMOCA boats sail down the channel, and the beach was off-limits. This 2024 edition should therefore mark a return to normality and attract a host of enthusiasts.

On-site departure

Visit vendée Globe village will be open on November 10, and two "special departure" programs will be broadcast live. France Bleu Loire Océan from 7am to 2pm and France Info from 7am to 12pm. Giant screens will be set up in the village to broadcast the start. As a reminder, the pontoons will be closed on November 9 and 10. Access to the village is free, but a time slot must be reserved via the ticket office.

The highlight of the show along the channel ! Be warned, however, that you'll have to be there early to hope for a place. From La Chaume or the fishing port, visitors can admire the mythical descent of the 40 skippers and cheer them on in their adventure. Emotions guaranteed. The first IMOCA to set sail will be Charlie Dalin's Macif Santé Prévoyance at 8 am. Departures from the pontoons will be staggered every 3 minutes, with Violette Dorange on Devenir bringing up the rear at 9:57 am.

Visitors can watch the departure from the grande plage des Sables-d'Olonne but also from the coast, a little further away from the sailors. From the backfill, Tanchet, le Puits d'Enfer, Cayola, la Paracou, Sauveterre it will be possible to admire the boats from the starting line, provided you have a good pair of binoculars. These areas are Natura 2000 zones, so you'll need to stay on the paths and respect the rules for protecting flora and fauna.

Le chenal des Sables d'Olonne en 2016 © Olivier Blanchet / DPPI / Vendée Globe

Attend the departure at sea

For a unique experience, local service providers offer sea trips from Les Sables-d'Olonne. It's not certain that you'll still find places with 10 days to go before the start, and in any case you'll have to pay the price. Aboard a boat, you'll be able to get a close-up view of the IMOCA fleet waiting for the start. However, spectator boats must respect strict rules to avoid disturbing the competitors. The harbor, the quay and the reserved maritime area around the start line will be under surveillance to guarantee the safety of all participants and spectators. If you are embarking on your own boat, you must respect the exclusion zones and the instructions in the prefectoral decree issued a few days before the start.

Avant de quitter les pontons, les skippers passent devant le fameux trophée © Yvan Zedda / Alea
Before leaving the pontoons, the skippers pass in front of the famous trophy © Yvan Zedda / Alea

Follow the start from a distance

If you can't make it to the event, there are plenty of options to make sure you don't miss a thing. Channels France 3 and the digital platform france.tv will broadcast the start live on November 10 during the midday news. France Télévisions' coverage will also include documentaries and special programs on the race, the skippers and previous editions, enabling enthusiasts to experience the atmosphere from the comfort of their own homes.

For those who prefer to follow the event online, the Vendée Globe social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) will offer live videos, interviews and exclusive photos of the skippers. The start can be followed from the youTube channel of the race .

More articles on the theme