250 kilometers of coastline, a wide open window on the Atlantic Ocean, 13 ports each with their own identity, the Vendée has many faces, not least a strong maritime one.
From the outset, the Vendée Globe has been the race of an entire département. Around thirty major Vendée companies, including the Conseil départemental de la Vendée, the town of Les Sables d'Olonne, SODEBO and the Pays de la Loire region, have joined forces to make the Vendée the organizer of the world's greatest sailing races. The gamble paid off, as the Vendée Globe is not only a major sporting event, but is also followed in France and abroad by many enthusiasts who go far beyond sailing fans.
2022 and now 2024 see the arrival of new complementary races, the 1st qualifier for the Vendée Globe 2024, the Vendée Arctique les Sables d'Olonne, in June 2022, and the last, the New York Vendée Les Sables d'Olonne, in June 2024. They confirm the Vendée 's reputation as a host to the world's greatest sailing races. The region comes alive around these international competitions, especially for youngsters, with the Vendée Globe Junior program, which offers games, news and educational sheets for schoolchildren, young people and families. Each of these races has an educational character: they introduce people to the oceans, continents, natural environments and species, and raise awareness of the need to preserve them.
