Forty IMOCA boats assembled in the early hours of the morning to take on the non-stop, solo, unassisted race around the world. The course covers 45,000 kilometres and includes rounding the legendary three capes (Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn), before returning back to Les Sables d’Olonne in mid to late January 2025.
This year the Vendée Globe celebrates its 10th edition and the diversity of the line-up increases the possibility that an international candidate could win the race for the first time. Given the blend of experience, nautical miles sailed and bespoke boat design, Boris Herrmann is considered a strong contender for a podium place.
An enormous crowd of spectators lined the harbour in Les Sables d’Olonne to cheer on the boats as they departed through the iconic channel exit on their way to the start. For many watching this was a particularly uplifting moment, given the last edition of the race in 2020/21 took place during the pandemic.
In response to the enthusiastic send-off, Boris Herrmann said: “Sport has a wonderful power, bringing people together across nations, borders and viewpoints. Seeing such a large crowd here, and with so many international followers tracking this grand adventure online, I really appreciate the value of the race”.
The race is expected to take around eighty days to complete and in that time anything can happen. The challenge that lies ahead is one of physical and mental endurance, so Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia’s approach is to break it down into stages, taking it one day at a time.
The best way to follow their progress is via the race tracker which is updated every four hours. We will also share regular insights as the race unfolds.