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With the start of the Vendée Globe set for November 10, 2024, the organization has unveiled the outline of the new rules for qualifying for the 2028 round-the-world race. The qualification system will be implemented over a 4-year period, starting with the 2024 edition of the Vendée Globe. The number of skippers taking part in the race will remain at 40, with 3 Wild Card places reserved.
Accumulate maximum points in the IMOCA Globe Series Championship
From now on, skippers will no longer have to race by miles, but by ranking. To take part in the round-the-world race, skippers will need to accumulate a maximum number of points. These points will be awarded for each race in the IMOCA Globe Series Championship, between the Vendée Globe 2024 and June 30, 2028. The number of points awarded will be adapted according to the races contested. For example, in early November 2024, Yoann Richomme, winner of The Transat CIC won 200 points, Boris Herrmann, second, 180 points and Samantha Davies, 3rd, 165 points. Charlie Dalin's victory in the Défi Azimut earned him 50 points.
To date, the skipper of the IMOCA Macif Santé Prévoyance leads the ranking with 400 points. Last, in 38th place, is Louis Duc with 27 points. So you'll need to be among the top 37 skippers in the points ranking. This ranking will start with the result of the Vendée Globe 2024.
"Does this new standard penalize older boats or not? Of course, it's better to have a fast boat to get good results. In this 2024 edition, there were 42 entries for 40 places. This new rule will have more of an impact on the competition for the last few places. From a sporting point of view, it also means that we're well prepared for the Vendée Globe, compared with other competitors who are less ready. It's a very high-level challenge to sail around the world. Introducing this notion of performance is quite logical. The system will enable us to decide between the 10 or 15 skippers in the queue", explains Antoine Mermod, president of the IMOCA class.
No advantages for new boats, no more boat/skipper pairings
This new system favors fast, recent boats, while at the same time the organization has indicated its intention to extend the life of boats by welcoming boats with a measurement certificate issued after January 1, 2005 for the 2028 race. At the same time, new boats built for the 2028 edition will not be automatically qualified, as was the case for the upcoming 2024 edition.
Another change is that it is no longer the skipper/boat pairing that qualifies, but the skipper alone. As a result, Nicolas Lunven, who is taking part in the Vendée Globe 2024, will earn points if he finishes the race, but not his boat. Rosalin Kuiper, who will succeed him at the helm of Holcim PRB for The Ocean Race Europe 2025, will in turn have to accumulate her own points.
Complete a grade 2 solo race
In addition to the points system (i.e. ranking), the rules include finishing a Grade 2 IMOCA Globe Series single-handed race in a time not exceeding that of the winner plus 50%. Round-the-world races such as the Vendée Globe and The Ocean Race are classified as grade 1, races over 2,500 miles such as the Route du Rhum, the New York Vendée les Sables-d'Olonne or the Vendée Arctique les Sables-d'Olonne as grade 2, races between 2,500 and 1,000 miles as grade 3 and races under 1,000 miles as grade 4.
For this edition, the rule indicated that starting a qualifying race in 2024 was sufficient to qualify for the Vendée Globe in the case of a new-build boat. For example, Jean Le Cam had only started The Transat CIC before turning back, but still qualified. For 2028, it will be imperative to finish within a given timeframe.
More flexible qualification measures
To lighten the IMOCA skippers' schedule, the organization has decided to remove from the final calculation the three races in which the skippers performed least well. This also applies to non-participation. The organization specifies that skippers will be able to opt out of certain races and stay away from the circuit for a given period of time, as in the case of maternity leave. As a reminder, skipper Clarisse Crémer lost her sponsor on the grounds that her maternity would jeopardize her qualification for the Vendée Globe. This will also make up for any injuries or illnesses that sailors may suffer. Charlie Dalin had to give up several qualifying races due to health problems.
"Not taking part in a race is a bad result. This can erase that. So can those who want to take a break. During the 4 years between two Vendée Globes, there are about 15 races, so those who don't take part in the Vendée Globe can still qualify. There's less pressure than taking part in all the races. Skippers with very good results will get a lot of points, whereas less good skippers will have to do more racing." continues Antoine Mermod.
Another noteworthy development is that the organizer will no longer be issuing one Wild Card, but three invitations.
Other environmental measures
The aim is to equip the entire fleet with oceanographic measuring instruments selected by UNESCO, the project sponsor. For this 2024 edition, the aim was to equip 50% of the fleet, and this objective has been achieved, with 25 skippers taking equipment on board.
The boats are also aiming to stop using fossil fuels to produce the electricity needed to run the equipment on board, with the exception of safety equipment. The IMOCA class will be starting work in this direction.
