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33-year-old skipper Sébastien Simon, one of the emerging names in French ocean sailing, is preparing his return to the Vendée Globe with resilience and determination. After being forced to retire off the coast of South Africa back in 2020 while in fourth place, due to boat damage, Simon has transformed this setback into a lesson in perseverance. At the last Transat he suffered a concussion and a fractured neck, leading him to also completely rethink the concept of safety on board.
"After the accident, I spent three months unable to move and another month in rehabilitation. We then modified the boat to avoid new risks: the seat was custom-made, with seat belts and shock absorbers. The berth was also improved with foot stoppers and nets created by local fishermen to prevent it from being thrown forward in the event of an impact. I now always wear a helmet above 20 knots”.
Arnaud Boissières is a sailor who embodies perseverance and a pure passion for the sea. Known among friends and fans as "Cali," Boissières is not only a sailor with years of experience, but a person who exudes great humility and a strong joie de vivre, qualities that make him a unique and beloved figure throughout the world of ocean sailing. He is the only skipper to have completed four consecutive Vendée Globes, each of which he has always tackled with a balance of tenacity and serenity, demonstrating a great respect for the sea and for the extreme challenge that this adventure provides. He is a French sailing legend and is ready to complete his fifth consecutive round-the-world race!
Arnaud will be participating in the UNESCO project with the following oceanographic equipment on board:
During the 2020 Vendée Globe, his second edition, Manuel crossed the line in 103 days with a broken keel ram! After he had spent the first half of his life as an entrepreneur, he decided to make his dream come true and devote himself to ocean sailing, leaving his home in Normandy and settling in Les Sables-d'Olonne. In 2013, he joined the Class40 circuit and for four seasons he sailed his way between Transat Jacques Vabre and Québec/Saint-Malo, before joining the IMOCA class in 2017. To prepare for his second Vendée Globe, he took part in all the major regattas on the circuit - Transat Jacques Vabre, Route du Rhum, Retour à la Base, New York-Vendée - accumulating enough miles (19,825) to reach the top of the qualifications for non-new boats and validate his participation in the 2024 edition.
Manuel will be participating in the UNESCO project with the following oceanographic equipment on board:
A former judo champion and pub owner, Antoine had already been answered the unwavering call to the ocean, having taken part in the Minitransat of 2001. Following a long break in which he devoted himself to his family, he started sailing again in 2017; three years ago he bought one of the oldest Imoca still on the water, an Owen Clarke design from 2005. A challenge within a challenge!
Antoine will be participating in the UNESCO project with the following oceanographic equipment on board:
For Louis Duc, there are no problems, only solutions, such as the one he implemented during a leg of the Mini Transat, when he dismasted but managed to put the mast back in place in the middle of the Atlantic, all by himself on a small 6.50 metre hull! And he is as daring at sea as he is ashore when it comes to ideas, so much so that he was the first to build a Class 40 with a "scow" bow, i.e. with rounded front volumes and a mast with a single spreader. He loves a challenge, which is why he did not shy away from buying and rebuilding the old, burnt-out "PRB 3" from 2007, taking his place on the starting line at this, his first Vendée.
Louis will be participating in the UNESCO project with the following oceanographic equipment on board:
BEYOND THE HORIZON | CHAPTER 04
Ending his voyage around the world on 17th January at 01:27:37 (local time), Sébastien Simon has crossed the finish line of this ninth edition of the Vendée Globe, taking third place overall, with a lead of over 2000 nm over his pursuers. This marks a truly extraordinary achievement for the solo French sailor and SLAM ambassador, who distinguished himself in such a uniquely challenging competition alongside a record number of 40 participants taking part, 6 of whom have been forced to retire so far.
Here are the latest arrival and estimates for the first Vendée Globe competitors.
Arrival on 01/14/2025
Finish time: 07:24:49 UTC
Race time: 64d 19h 22min 49s
Arrival on 01/15/2025
Finish time: 06:12:02 UTC
Race time: 65d 18h 10min 02s
Vendée Globe leader Charlie Dalin(MACIF Santé Prévoyance) is well into the final 24 hours of his Vendée Globe, knowing now that the victory he so narrowly missed four years ago will be his early tomorrow, Tuesday morning if everything goes to plan. At 0600hrs UTC this morning his lead over perennial rival Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA) is some 190 miles with just over 200 miles to sail. He will very soon pass the moment when he is closer to the finish than Richomme is to him. Dalin is still headed north of the ideal layline into Les Sables d’Olonne and the zone of lighter winds close to the French coast still lies in wait. Seb Simon follows.
Vast and mysterious, the ocean is more than simply a physical entity: it is a force that defines the very lives of the skippers taking on the Vendée Globe, the world's most challenging solo race. The ocean represents something much deeper than its endless waves, becoming a companion that pushes men and women to overcome their fears and push the limits of mind and body. Each wave that rises before them is a message from nature, an invitation to comprehend its intense power and beauty. There can be no turning back after crossing the starting line, when the horizon is but a promise and the sailors’ bond with the ocean becomes such a deep and intimate one. All that can exist is the silent dialogue between man and nature.
Manuel Cousin, Cup de Pouce
Wednesday, 25 december 2024
Like an over excited youngster on Christmas morning, Seb Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) had to wait until after breakfast time before he could pass Cape Horn for his first time. But for all that some patience was required of the skipper from Les Sables d’Olonne, he was rewarded by what might be described as ‘brochure conditions’, winds gusting to 47kts and a fierce, dark slate grey sea. Much as he would have liked to have been granted a picture-postcard passage such as was afforded the two leaders late on Monday night and into Tuesday morning, Simon passed more than 30 miles off, seeking to avoid the lee of the high, bluff land and to find a more consistent breeze and some searoom.
Seb Simon passed at 0921hrs UTC this morning, 1 day 9 hours after leader Richomme. Full of the joys of exiting the Pacific, Simon exclaimed,"Thank you Pacific, ciao Big South and long live the Atlantic. That is a big thing done", added the skipper of Groupe Dubreuil who, like the two up in front of him has slowed to boat speeds in single figures.
"I passed with more than 40 knots of wind and rough seas, which didn't stop it from being the best Christmas present!
Dive into the success stories, tactics and inner strength of Sébastien Simon as he takes on the 2024 Vendée Globe: his records in distance covered, the challenges of the South Seas and his strategies to stay on top in such an extreme regatta
The 2024 edition of the Vendée Globe continues to thrill with twists and turns, speed records and moments of uncertainty. Although audiences are able to keep up with the race in almost real time thanks to the technology at disposal, through pictures and videos sent by the skippers, there is still one aspect that remains deeply personal: loneliness. A loneliness that becomes even more intense as the days go by and Christmas approaches, representing a unique challenge for all sailors.
In order to tackle three months of sailing the planet's most treacherous oceans, skippers devote years to their preparations: from physical and mental training to boat tuning and strategies for dealing with loneliness, stress and the most extreme conditions. Behind every departure is a journey: a preparatory process that is in itself a victory!
Five French sailors are transforming their adventure and boats into floating test labs, gathering essential feedback.
They are wearing SLAM prototypes developed for ocean sailing, designed with advanced technological solutions and cutting-edge materials.
Das langärmelige Oberteil Pro Seamless Merino Top LS ist für diejenigen angezeigt, die wissen, wie wichtig es ist, Unterwäsche mit Eigenschaften wie Komfort, Ergonomie, schnellem Trocken und Elastizität zu tragen. Es ist aus Merino-Mischgarn und sorgt im Kontakt mit der Haut für ein angenehmes Gefühl.
Herren-Fleecepullover mit durchgehendem Reißverschluss aus Grid-Fleece-Gewebe von Pontetorto (auf Fleece spezialisierter Hersteller) mit Gittermuster, wärmeregulierend und atmungsaktiv. Der Pullover Active Mid Weight Grid Fleece ist für mehrere Situationen und Sportarten geeignet.
Die Active Hooded Insulated Jacket für Herren ist die Jacke mit Kapuze, die den perfekten Kompromiss zwischen Undurchlässigkeit und Atmungsaktivität darstellt und dazu noch gut wärmt. Bereit für eine Runde auf dem Boot mit Freunden?
Herren-Ölzeug mit geringem Gewicht, eigens für den erfahrenen Segler gedacht. Die extrem schützende Pro Racing Jacket ist aus speziell für Segelaktivitäten im Kontakt mit Salzwasser entwickeltem Gewebe hergestellt, das vor Wasser schützt und eine gute Belüftung gewährleistet.
