2024 Vendee Globe Shout-out

[socalrider]

Apologies if this has already been brought up! I know a lot of us here are former or current sailors. Certainly all of us can appreciate the superhuman challenge of a solo non-stop round-the-world race that takes place once every four years. I know that following this race has brought me great joy personally over the past decade and a half or so, and thought that some of you might enjoy it as well if you happen to have missed the start a bit back. For those who are curious:

Here's the official site with the race tracker

Tracker | Vendée Globe 2024

All the information you need about the Vendée Globe 2024: skippers, rankings, maps and news about this solo, non-stop, non-assisted round-the-world race.

www.vendeeglobe.org

And here's a fantastic thread over at Sailing Anarchy, always kind of a rough-and-tumble place, but there are some extremely knowledgeable sailors over there, including some who have competed in previous Vendee Globe races.

Vendee Globe 2024

It's approaching and Armel is looking for a new ride.

forums.sailinganarchy.com

Enjoy! I know I will!

 

[Jeff F]

Haven't really been following, except that I noted a new 24 hr record distance record, something like 560 NM. The boats and related technology are remarkable.

 

[socalrider]

Here's some amazing drone footage taken from an IMOCA in the Southern Ocean to give some perspective on what these boats can do. If this doesn't get your heart pumping you are already dead!

 

[Larry M]

I don’t know when this picture was taken but wow!

 

[Moonfish]

Those sailors are inspirational! Love following their adventures. We've had a couple of them on our podcast.

We had Bruce Schwab, the first American to officially complete the Vendee Globe back in 2005 (episode #4), as well as South African sailor Kirsten Neuschafer, the first woman to ever win a solo around the world race, the Golden Globe 2023 (episode #6). Impressive humans! Kirsten was my favorite show we've done so far (out of 30). Such a humble, down-to-earth, very inspirational person.

 

[PNK]

Thanks for sharing this, these boats and their sailors are amazing! I sailed those seas back in 2016, as part of the crew on a 3-masted square rigger; even in the strongest wind, 10 knots was the most we got, and only briefly. Doing 30 knots is hard to imagine, they must be sailing right on the edge all the time. If we could have covered 560 nm in 24 hours we could have reached the Antarctic Peninsula, instead of the 5 days it took us. I don't think I would have the courage to make the voyage by myself, though, all of them that do have my admiration.
Peter