“ Compressed by emotion », the 40 skippers of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe left this Sunday, November 10 for a new solo journey around the world, acclaimed by hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Les Sables-d’Olonne to say goodbye.
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The last hours spent on land by these heroes of the sea have, as in each edition since 1989, attracted a much wider audience than simple sailing enthusiasts, proof of the fascination exerted by this extraordinary human adventure. Finally alone, Louis Burton steered seated and in complete tranquility towards the open sea. At 12:02 UT this Sunday, all the sailors entered peacefully began their journey from Les Sables-d’Olonne, helped by good weather and a light wind (4 to 7 knots on average) greatly limiting the risk of collision between boats.
An atmosphere contrasting with the morning fervor which has taken over the coasts of the Vendée city. Because, a few hours earlier, the aspiring tourdumondists had walked along the pontoon of honor at Les Sables-d’Olonne one by one amid cheers, returning to their boat where hand-picked technicians were busy making the final preparations.
“Everyone on the boat is crying, people on the docks are crying”
The navigator Charlie Dalin (Macif), who has the status of big favorite, was the first to take part in this moving tradition from 6:22 UT. Solicited by numerous media and officials, he reserved his last minutes on land, before more than two months at sea, for long embraces with his son and his wife. “ Very happy, super happy to start this second Vendée for me. We worked hard to be ready, it’s really a day to celebrate “, he said, smiling. For more than two hours, the “ Goodbye » took place between the skippers and their loved ones, under the watchful eyes of former winners.
From the deck of their 18-meter monohulls, the Japanese Kojiro Shiraishi (DMG Mori) and the Chinese Jingkun Xu (Singchain team Haikou), in traditional attire, discovered foghorns and support banners as far as the eye could see. The balconies of the buildings lining the channel were packed, their occupants chanting the name of each sailor passing in front of them.
“ We all find ourselves very small in the middle of the crowd. Everyone on the boat is crying, the people on the docks are crying, you can’t hold back, you’re overwhelmed with emotion all over. », said a few days before the start of the Swiss Alan Roura (Hublot), who is setting off for the third time.
Towards a record?
A few minutes before the gun went off, the last crew member on the sailboats jumped into the sea. A moment that can be quite brutalsaid Samantha Davies, (Heart Initiatives), on the eve of her 4th participation. You tell yourself that you have three months ahead of you, alone, and at the same time, you have to quickly refocus on the race », added the 50-year-old sailor. In front of the bows, 24,300 theoretical miles, or 45,000 km, to be covered without outside help.
The fastest to have ever completed the exercise is Armel Le Cléac’h in 2016/2017 (74 days and 3 hours). The speed and reliability of the boats in this 10th edition suggest that the record could fall early next year. But the weather forecast for the first days of the race will not work in their favor. Like Sunday, the light weather should limit the risk of breakage and also slow down the fleet significantly up to the coast of Cape Finisterre, in Spain.
The first sailors are expected back in Vendée in mid-January to reunite with their loved ones and a packed crowd.