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, 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.
The IMOCA, is a 60ft development class monohull sailing yacht governed by the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA). The class pinnacle event are single or two person ocean races, such as the Route du Rhum and the Vendée Globe and this has been intimately linked to design development within the class. The class is recognised by World Sailing.
Alex Thomson is a British yachtsman.
The Transat Jacques Vabre is a yachting race that follows the historic coffee trading route between France and Brazil. It is named after a French brand of coffee.
The first around the world sailing record for circumnavigation of the world can be attributed to the surviving crew of Ferdinand Magellan's expedition, including the last captain Juan Sebastián Elcano who completed their journey in 1522.
Guillaume Verdier is a French naval architect noted for his designs of high performance sailboats.
The 2020–2021 Vendée Globe was a non-stop round the world yacht race for IMOCA 60 class yachts crewed by only one person. It was the ninth edition of the race, which started and finished in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. The race began on 8 November 2020, with the first finishers completing the course on 27 January 2021 with the 25th and final yacht to complete the race arrived on 5 March 2021.
Kevin Escoffier is a French professional sailor born on 4 April 1980 in Saint-Malo, France and a resident of Lorient. He is an offshore sailor who has won the 2018 Volvo Ocean Race as a bowman onboard DongFeng. and competed in the 2020–2021 Vendée Globe aboard PRB. In 2022-23 he initially skippered Holcim-PRB in The Ocean Race, before leaving the team mired in a sexual harassment incident. He is a member of the yacht club SN Baie St. Malo
Jérémie Beyou is a French professional Offshore sailor born on 27 June 1976 in Landivisiau (Finistère). He is a member of C N Lorient Sailing Club.
Yannick Bestaven is a French offshore sailor. He won the Transat 6.50 in 2001, was twice winner of the Transat Jacques-Vabre, and won the Vendee Globe in 2020-21.
Clément Giraud is a French professional offshore sailor.
The 2016–2017 Vendée Globe was a non-stop solo Round the World Yacht Race for IMOCA 60 class yachts and the eighth edition of the race.
The 2012–2013 Vendée Globe was a non-stop solo Round the World Yacht Race for IMOCA 60 class yachts and the seventh edition of the race.
Foncia 2 is a IMOCA 60 Class offshore racing monohull sailing yacht launched 2010.
Richard Tolkien is a British corporate finance adviser, director and trustee and experienced adventure sailor who grew up in Devon. He was educated at King Edward VI School, Totnes, and Exeter College, Oxford (1974–1977), where he won the Webb Medley prize and graduated with a first in PPE. He joined HM Treasury that year and worked for the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the private office from 1979 to 1982.
Morgan Lagravière is a French professional sailor who was a member of the National Olympic squad before progressing into offshore sailing.
The 2024–2025 Vendée Globe is a non-stop round the world yacht race for IMOCA 60 class yachts crewed by only one person. It will be the tenth edition of the race, and will start and finish in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. The race is scheduled to begin on 10 November 2024.
MACIF Santé Prévoyance, is an IMOCA 60 monohull sailing yacht, designed by Guillaume Verdier and constructed by CDK Technologies and Mer Concept in France, launched on 24 of June 2023. It is designed for the Vendée Globe 2024, a solo tour of the world. Its skipper is the French Charlie Dalin.
Tout commence en Finistère - Armor-lux, is an IMOCA 60 monohull sailing yacht, designed by David Raison and constructed by Persico Marine in Italy, launched on 30. of September 2023. It is designed for the Vendée Globe 2024, a solo tour of the world. Its skipper is the French Jean Le Cam.
The Transat New York Vendée- Les Sables d'Olonne is a solo transatlantic race aboard IMOCA 60 monohulls. It is part of the IMOCA Globe Series circuit. The 3,100 nautical miles route starts in New York City and finishes in Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendée Region, France.
