Vendée Globe: Belonging to the Ocean

The Vendée Globe: An ocean that is companion, master and foe

The Vendée Globe: An ocean that is companion, master and foe

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.

The Vendée Globe is not just a race defined by physical and mental endurance, it is a profound dialogue between man and ocean, a celebration of courage, resilience and connection with nature.

«

The ocean is a part of me. It’s an element that we need to trust, but we really need to respect the ocean. Each time, I feel a bit, how do you say? It’s a privilege

»

Sébastien Simon

Capturing the ocean

Among the hundreds of moments caught on camera that the skippers send from the sea, many depict waves, sunsets, albatrosses and, after 16 years, even an iceberg. When conditions allow it, they try to admire and appreciate the paradise that surrounds them, a world that very few are lucky enough to enjoy at certain latitudes, so far from everything.

In the 2024-2025 edition of the Vendée Globe, for the first time since 2008, a number of skippers spotted icebergs along the course, despite the Antarctic Exclusion Zone (EAZ), a demarcation created to avoid such encounters. On 1st January 2025, Sébastien Marsset (FOUSSIER) spotted an iceberg at 18:15 UTC, followed by Éric Bellion (STAND AS ONE - Altavia) at 20:00 UTC. A few hours later, on 2nd January at 01:05 UTC, Conrad Colman (MS Amlin) reported another sighting. These close encounters with ice giants underline the risks of sailing solo in remote waters. The last documented sighting was in 2008, when skipper Samantha Davies reported their presence. These moments with the ocean wilderness demonstrate the deep connection between sailors and the marine environment, a relationship of respect and wonder that few will ever experience.

Setting record after record

In the wonderful and thrilling challenge that is the Vendée Globe, SLAM ambassador Sébastien Simon recently broke more than one record. The first relates to miles covered over the course of 24 hours: 615.33 nautical miles at an average speed of 25.64 knots. The second concerns the time taken to round Cape Horn, breaking a record that had stood for eight years, when in 2016 Armel Le Cléac'h took 47 days, 00 hours and 34 minutes to cover the distance from Les Sables d'Olonne to Cape Horn. Seb took only 44 days, 21 hours and 19 minutes. The record was also broken by the first two in the fleet, Yoann Richomme, who bettered it by more than three and a half days, with a time of 43 days, 11 hours and 25 minutes, followed by Charlie Dalin, just nine minutes behind.

«

Our planet is very sick. The planet is sick because of us. Because we are not careful about that. That’s why for us, for me and my team and my sponsor, it’s something that is important.

»

Arnaud Boissières

Cape Horn: a defining moment of the Vendée Globe

Of all the epic challenges that make up the Vendée Globe, the passage of Cape Horn is a fundamental milestone, brimming with historical and symbolic significance. Located at the southern tip of the South American continent, the cape is infamous for its extreme conditions, with raging winds and tumultuous seas that have tested sailors for centuries. Passing Cape Horn marks the beginning of the challengers’ ascent towards the finish line, representing a crucial turning point. For sailors, this is a moment of reflection and determination, knowing that they have overcome one of the toughest challenges of the journey and are one step closer to completing this epic solo race around the world.

The passage of Cape Horn is often considered the “Mount Everest” of sailing, a milestone that epitomises the challenge against the nature and its elements.

Learning from the sea

For the skippers taking part in the Vendée Globe, the ocean is not just a landscape to be crossed, it is a faithful companion, at times generous, at others ruthless. After sailing alone for thousands of miles, the sea transforms into a living presence, a master teaching patience, humility and respect.

Many skippers describe their relationship with the sea as a kind of symbiosis. "When you are out there, you realise just how small you really are. The sea teaches you to live in the moment, to feel the wind, to read the waves," comments Clarisse Cremer, one of the race's youngest participants.

Challenges and personal growth

Every participant in the Vendée Globe knows that the regatta is also an inner journey. Its difficulties - storms, technical failures, extreme fatigue - push their physical and mental limits. But by facing these challenges, skippers emerge transformed, more aware of their own strengths and weaknesses.

«

Surely, we all see these differences.I think we are the first witnesses of what happens in the sea, that is the pollution. Unfortunately, for example, the containers, the bits of wood,and the palettes that are going on in the sea, we see more and more. And this is really problematic for us, for the damages.We have always a possibility of damaging the boat at the speed we go. We can hit a container, a pallet, or things that are lying around, but above all, we can also see the effects of climate change.

»

Manuel Cousin

Why the Vendée Globe captivates the world

Even those who have never set foot on a sailing boat can find universal meaning in the Vendée Globe: a riveting story of men and women who dare to dream big, who dare to accept the unknown and rely on nothing but their wits and spirit. This regatta embodies values we can all admire: courage, perseverance, the ability to adapt to change.

The sea as a reflection of human nature

The Vendée Globe is a microcosm of our relationship with nature. It reminds us that, despite our technological advances, we are still tied to the elements. The sea is both beauty and danger, resource and mystery. At a time when climate change challenges us to rethink our role in the natural world, the Vendée Globe reminds us of the urgent need to respect and protect our planet.

To follow the Vendée Globe is to be transported into an extraordinary adventure, where the ocean is not just a stage, but the protagonist. Whether you are a sailing enthusiast or simply fascinated by stories of challenges and discovery, this regatta is an invitation to gaze beyond the horizon and rediscover the bond that connects us to nature and to ourselves.

AUTHOR: Elena Giolai/SLAM