22 IMOCA to attack the Arctic on 4 July 2020

On 4th July 2020, the start of the Vendée-Arctique - Les Sables-d'Olonne will be given, a new race reserved for IMOCA boats. 25 skippers will take the start with different objectives.

Chloé Torterat Published on June 11, 2020

3,600 miles to prepare for the Vendée Globe

The New York-Vendée-Les Sables-d'Olonne - a preparatory race for the Vendée Globe - was originally due to start on 16th June 2020. However, due to the health crisis with Covid-19, this race was cancelled. At the request of the IMOCA class and in consultation with the skippers and their partners, it was then replaced by the Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables-d'Olonne.

Le parcours de la VendÃ©e-Arctique-Les Sables-d'Olonne — The route of the Vendée-Arctic-Les Sables-d'Olonne

This 3,600 nautical mile loop takes place over a new course: a start and finish in the Vendée, in Les Sables-d'Olonne, stretching as far as the edge of the Arctic Circle and the south-west of the Azores. The finish is scheduled 10 to 14 days later, between 14th and 18th July 2020.

L'IMOCA La Mie Caline - Artisans Artipole

22 skippers in the running

While some still have to qualify for the Vendée Globe (there are only 17 of them officially registered among the 35 contenders at the start), others just want to measure themselves against their rivals, after this very long winter refit and the many optimisations for the single-handed round the world race, which will start on 8th November.

We will therefore find the majority of the latest generation of foilers (6 starters on the 9 boats launched since Charal. Absent will be Corum l'Epargne and Hugo Boss, as their skippers are already qualified and prefer to make their boats more reliable), as well as 15 other foil boats, including 5 skippers who will finally be able to fulfil their sporting obligations: Clément Giraud, Isabelle Joschke, Kojiro Shiraishi, Sébastien Simon and Armel Tripon.

Mise Ã l'eau de l'IMOCA MACSF Ã Lorient Â©Th.Martinez/Sea&Co — Launching of the IMOCA MACSF in Lorient ©Th.Martinez/Sea&Co

Adapting to sanitary conditions

If taking part in a single-handed race is a prerequisite for the Vendée Globe, it will have to take place in compliance with the health rules. Thus, the skippers will be convoying their 60-foot monohulls from their home port on 3rd July and will remain off Les Sables-d'Olonne until the next day, the start date. There will therefore be no departure village.