The Vendée Globe is a single-handed, non-stop, unassisted round-the-world race. Skippers sail about 45,000 kilometres around the globe, braving the most fearsome seas and the most extreme weather conditions. The competition takes place every four years, starting in Les Sables-d'Olonne, in Vendée, and passes through three emblematic capes: the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and finally Cape Horn. The race is sailed on a 60-foot monohull called an IMOCA. For 2024, the number of participants is limited to 40.
Last qualifying race for the Vendée Globe
To take part in the Vendée Globe, the skipper and boat pairing must be qualified. This not only attests to the sailor's skills and the reliability of their project, but also guarantees that their boats have been sufficiently tested to complete a round-the-world race.
Each skipper must be at the start of at least two qualifying races on his IMOCA boat (including one in 2022 or 2023 and one in 2024). He must finish at least one of them and his race time can't be over one and a half times longer than the winner's time.
If more than 40 candidates meet the qualifying conditions, a selection will be made, based on the number of miles raced since 2021. The New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne is the last qualifying and selection race before the Vendée Globe, hence its crucial importance! To add a little more spice to the competition, 1 mile sailed on the New York Vendée will count 1.5 miles for the selection.
