The Vendée Globe is a single-handed (solo) non-stop round the world yacht race. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years. It is named after the Département of Vendée, Les Sables-d’Olonne in France, where the race starts and ends. The Vendée Globe is considered an extreme quest of individual endurance and the ultimate test in ocean racing.
Vendée Globe is the world’s longest non-stop solo sailing race. The distance currently sailed without stopping is 22,500 nautical miles (41,652 km).
The prescribed format of the race is as follows:
- Skippers must sail solo, without assistance, and without stopping.
- Skippers must round the three great capes: Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn.
- Skippers must pass through the Southern Ocean at least once.
The competitors may stop at anchor but not draw alongside a quay or another vessel; they may receive no outside assistance, including customized weather or routing information. The only exception is that a competitor with an early problem may return to the start for repairs and restart the race, as long as the restart is within 10 days of the official opening.
The Vendée Globe is one of the most challenging sailing races in the world, and it is a test of both physical and mental endurance. Skippers must be able to sail their boats safely in all weather conditions, and they must also be able to manage their own resources and stay motivated for the duration of the race.
According to the Internet
