Foto galerija

A new record sized fleet will compete in the 2020 edition of the Vendée Globe as 33 competitors are now registered to be on the start line off Les Sables d’Olonne on November 8. The strong entry underlines the contnued growing interest in the solo, non-stop round the world race.

The field sees a notable return of women skippers as a record six female solo racers are set to take the line, while there is an almost equal balance between first time ‘bizuths’ or rookies and skippers returning for another crack at the ultimate solo ocean racing challenge. Clearly the Vendée Globe has matured to be an event which sailors do not only do once in a lifetime.

September 1st was the deadline nominated, by which time contenders had to have completed their application files, that is to say having fulfilled the administrative and medical formalities, to have completed validated a qualification course, but also being able to have produced a valid, up to date IMOCA class measurement certificate before October 15th. The additional time allowed for the presentation of the certificate is designed to allow teams to work on their late modifications before finally setting up the configuration of the boat for the race.

Last minute
A few competitors validated their qualification by finishing the Vendée - Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne race, so completing their required solo course. Isabelle Joschke (MACSF), Kojiro Shiraishi (DMG Mori) did this when they crossed the finish line near the legendary Nouch Sud buoy.

They were joined by Clément Giraud who, following his participation in the Vendée Arctic Les Sables d'Olonne will be able to participate in the Vendée Globe on Erik Nigon's boat as he was unable to raise the necessary funds to be at the start.

Nicolas Troussel (Corum L’Épargne) and Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2), two sailors who already have the Transat Jacques Vabre to their credit qualified with their own Race Direction approved 2000 miles solo course, as did Didac Costa (One Planet One Ocean) recently from his native Catalonia.  Penalized by the breakage of one of his foils in the early hours of the Vendée - Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne race, Sébastien Simon (Arkéa-Paprec) was able to rely on a replacement route (2,000 miles) to complete his required qualifying miles as a debuting skipper with a new build boat. Likewise, Armel Tripon (L’Occitane en Provence), who suffered a damage in July, completed his registration file by making a clean passage also on a substitution course.

Sébastien Destremau, Last In But Sorted
Given the fact that he had completed the 2016 Vendée Globe Sébastien Destremau (Merci) had to complete a solo course of 2,000 miles. He had done most of a required passage when a broken spreader base forced him to retire. As a common sense dispensation, the race director suggested that he complete an additional 1,000-mile course before September 15.  Sébastien who holds dual French and Australian nationalities and who completed the Vendée Globe 2016-2017 fulfilled his deal with the race direction on Thursday this week, and so he is 33rd and last registered in this Vendée Globe 2020!

Two major dates
The skippers have already entered two major dates on their calendar.

- On September 17, at the Palais Brongniart in Paris, there will be the press conference to present the event with all the sailors (subject to the rules imposed by sanitary conditions).

- On Friday October 16, the entire fleet must have reached Port Olona for the inauguration of the Vendée Globe village and the start of the gauge checks. There will be three weeks left before the big departure.

Participation history

1989-1990: 13 boats at the start
1992-1993: 15 boats
1996-1997: 15 boats
2000-2001: 24 boats
2004-2005: 20 boats
2008-2009: 30 boats
2012-2013: 20 boats
2016-2017: 29 boats
2020-2021: 33 boats

Sailors registered on the 1st of September

Fabrice AMEDEO : NEWREST – ART & FENÊTRES
Romain ATTANASIO : PURE – BEST WESTERN
Alexia BARRIER :   4MYPLANET
Yannick BESTAVEN : MAÎTRE COQ IV
Jérémie BEYOU : CHARAL
Arnaud BOISSIÈRES : LA MIE CÂLINE – ARTISANS PÔLE
Louis BURTON : BUREAU VALLEE 2
Didac COSTA : ONE PLANET ONE OCEAN
Manuel COUSIN : GROUPE SETIN
Clarisse CREMER : BANQUE POPULAIRE X
Charlie DALIN : APIVIA
Samantha DAVIES : INITIATIVES-CŒUR
Sébastien DESTREMAU : MERCI
Benjamin DUTREUX :  OMIA - WATER FAMILY
Kevin ESCOFFIER : PRB
Clément GIRAUD : 
Pip HARE : MEDALLIA
Boris HERRMANN : SEA EXPLORER – YACHT CLUB DE MONACO
Ari HUUSELA : STARK
Isabelle JOSCHKE : MACSF
Jean LE CAM : YES WE CAM !
Stéphane LE DIRAISON : TIME FOR OCEANS
Miranda MERRON : CAMPAGNE DE FRANCE
Giancarlo PEDOTE : PRYSMIAN GROUP
Alan ROURA : LA FABRIQUE
Thomas RUYANT : LINKEDOUT
Damien SEGUIN : GROUPE APICIL
Kojiro SHIRAISHI : DMG MORI
Sébastien SIMON : ARKEA – PAPREC
Maxime SOREL : V and B – MAYENNE
Alex THOMSON : HUGO BOSS
Armel TRIPON : L’OCCITANE EN PROVENCE
Nicolas TROUSSEL : CORUM L’EPARGNE

To showcase innovative new models, provide a risk-free alternative to boat shows and offer the best possible yacht buying experience, Elan Yachts has created a unique Elan Yachting Experience (EYE) Centre in the beautiful resort town of Portorož on Slovenia’s Adriatic coast.

From October onwards, buyers who visit the new EYE Centre will be able to sail and evaluate all three series of Elan yachts – the exhilarating performance of the sporty E Line, the easy handling of the cruising Impression Line and the exclusive luxury of the new GT Line – while enjoying an Elan experience that is tailored to their individual needs.

The first three Elan models on show at the EYE Centre will be the brand new GT6, the best-selling I45.1 and the performance-oriented E4. More models will be added to the EYE Centre fleet in due course.

Two first-class experience packages are available, with five-star hotel accommodation and fine dining included. The one-day Elan Yachting Experience enables buyers to sail the Elan yacht on their shortlist in one of the world’s best cruising grounds. The two-day Elan Yachting Experience also includes a bespoke guided tour of the Elan shipyard in Begunje where buyers can inspect the hi-tech production facility and meet the craftsmen and composite engineers who build Elan yachts.

The EYE Centre also offers yacht buyers a much higher degree of personal safety. Slovenia has battled the COVID-19 crisis very effectively and is on the current Green List of most other countries around the world. Buyers can rest assured that comprehensive safety measures will be in place throughout their trip.

Elan Yachts is pleased to announce that construction of the first Elan GT6 – the Slovenian shipyard’s brand new flagship model – was completed on Friday 17 July and is now being prepared for launch on the Adriatic coast.

A next-generation fast cruising yacht built in premium hi-tech materials with distinctively sleek lines and a unique, luxurious interior, the 49ft GT6 has a high-performance hull and sailplan drawn by Humphreys Yacht Design and is the first production sailing yacht ever to be styled by Studio F. A. Porsche.

Preliminary tests and sea trials of the first Elan GT6 will soon be under way. After a comprehensive optimisation process to maximise its performance and ease of handling, the GT6 will be available for public viewing from October onwards.

Take a look inside of new Elan GT6: Enjoy Elan GT6 360 experience

The 14th running of the world’s toughest test of a team in sport will start in October 2022 with a Europe Race being considered for summer 2021...

Organisers of The Ocean Race have confirmed the next edition of the Race will start from Alicante, Spain, in October 2022 and finish in Genova, Italy, in the summer of 2023 during the 50th jubilee anniversary year of the Race.

For the first time in race history, further event timings have also been confirmed through the next 10 years and a feasibility study is currently underway for a European race to take place next summer.

The change to the start date for the next edition of the round the world race follows a strategic planning process and consultations with stakeholders to determine the best path forward in a sporting landscape impacted by COVID19.

“Since 1973, The Ocean Race has been one of the toughest challenges in sport. Winning teams have showcased that proper preparation is the foundation for success. We now find ourselves in unprecedented times and our first priority is with all those who have been and continue to be affected by the pandemic,” said Richard Brisius, the Race Chairman of The Ocean Race.

“As an international sporting competition, with stops on six continents, we are deeply connected to the changing reality of sailors, teams, cities and partners across the world. We have worked positively together over the past months to develop a stable and improved future, and this has led to the first ever 10-year plan of The Ocean Race, a 10-year plan adapted to the new reality in an innovative, sustainable and responsible way.

"This provides improved opportunities for sailors, teams, cities and partners to prepare properly for The Ocean Race and it gives fans something outstanding to look forward to over the coming years.”

The next edition of the Race, as planned, will be open to fully-crewed entries in the V065 and IMOCA60 class.

“Winning The Ocean Race is still a big ambition for me,” said Olympic and America’s Cup champion Peter Burling, who competed in the event for the first time in 2017-18. “I know how much effort and planning and preparation it takes to put together a successful campaign. Building in this extra year ahead of the next race increases the likelihood of strong, well-prepared teams being ready on the start line in Alicante. I think this is a well-considered and good decision.”

“The world has changed with COVID-19 and again we will witness the resilience of sailors, stakeholders and organisers of The Ocean Race,” said Chris Nicholson, co-founder, W-Ocean Racing, and a six-time veteran of the Race. “We have all lost significant time right at the crucial moment and this change is the right move. This will now allow us the time again to re-focus our efforts and be part of this great event.”

The full, award-winning sustainability programme, a core pillar of the Race, will continue to grow under the banner of Racing with Purpose. The Ocean Race Summits, the Education and Science Programmes are all being enhanced and integrated into all facets of the organisation of the Race.

“As the Founding Partner of the Sustainability Programme and Premier Partner of The Ocean Race, we stand in support of the decision to postpone the start by twelve months in response to the COVID-19 crisis,” said Jeremy Pochman, co-founder and CEO of 11th Hour Racing. “The impacts of this pandemic are myriad. 11th Hour Racing is committed to working with The Ocean Race and its partners to remain nimble and adapt to these challenges — with the goal of running a safe and sustainable Race in 2022-23."

Previously announced host cities and partners for the next edition of the Race will be involved for the 2022-23 event. Volvo Cars, Premier Partner of The Ocean Race, offered its unqualified support.

“We have been involved in The Ocean Race in one form or another for over 20 years now,” said Björn Annwall, Leader EMEA in the Executive Management Team at Volvo Cars. “We know the Race as the biggest challenge in sport. It attracts only the very best, where those best-prepared come out as winners. It is a responsible and insightful decision to adjust to the new realities now, as it allows for the athletes and other parties to prepare properly.

“For us The Ocean Race is more relevant than ever because the ocean is really symbolising communication and travel and trade, and all of those are powerful ways of creating cultural understanding.”

The process of arriving at these decisions involved outreach and consultation with stakeholders.

“We have been looking at the future of The Ocean Race and taking in honest feedback from our stakeholders around the world for some time now,” added Johan Salén, the Managing Director of the Race. “Moving the start date allows our host cities, teams and partners the time they need to best prepare for the next Race.

“But at the same time, we understood stakeholders were looking for confirmation of a longer term plan and enhancements to the Race, which we are also developing.”

The next three editions of The Ocean Race will be fully-crewed, around the world yacht races and will take place in 2022-23, in 2026-27 and in 2030-31.

Meaningful racing will be scheduled in between editions, and a European event in the summer of 2021, for IMOCA 60s and VO65s, and potentially other classes of fast racing yachts, is currently being considered for feasibility by the organisation along with registered teams and stakeholders.

“The Ocean Race Europe has been a vision and dream of ours and many others for a long time,” said Richard Brisius. “We imagine a race and festival for everyone that will inspire and unify across Europe. A celebration with engaged fans and athletes achieving the extraordinary while driving change for a healthier planet.

“We have been planning for The Ocean Race Europe to be held in between editions of The Ocean Race since we took responsibility for the Race last year. Originally we had been considering starting this in 2023, but we will now work with teams, cities, and partners to decide whether we should do it in the summer of 2021.”

For the 10 international host cities of The Ocean Race, the new calendar provides confirmation and clarity for the future.

Genova Mayor Marco Bucci said that hosting the finish of the Race in 2023 would be beneficial for the Italian stop, which is coming to the country for the very first time.

“Hosting the Grande Finale of The Ocean Race is something I know all of Genova and Italy is looking forward to,” Mayor Bucci said. “We had a small taste of how exciting it is when Genova and The Ocean Race work together when we hosted the first of The Ocean Race Summits back in September of last year.

“From our side, I know everyone involved with delivering this project for Genova will take advantage of the extra time we now have to ensure we have a truly special experience in 2023, which also happens to be the 50-year jubilee anniversary for the Race.

SAVE THE DATE: 11. 6. – 14. 6. 2020 and join us on the traditional Season Opening Sailing Party 2020. (2nd edition)

We will start the sailing season in 2020 with S.O.S. - active and fun sailing weekend. Like in previous years, it will include a lot of sailing, internal regattas with navigation challenges, and will be accompanied also with many fun and entertaining activities.

We welcome all sailing lovers - with partners, friends or families, regarding your sailing experience.

Start in Marina Kastela Split & Marina Frapa Rogoznica , CROATIA

PRICE: 295 € / person.

Registrations and payments until 07. June 2020!

The price includes:
- sailing boat,
- transit log (200€ / boat)
- turist tax
- skipper,
- 1 x Just Perfect dinner
- evening socializing events and parties,
- official 8th S.O.S. CREW T-Shirt


The price does not include:
- fuel (around 10 € / person)
- moorings (around 10 – 20 € / person)
- food and drinks expect two dinners
- transfers and parking

Program outline:

The final program is defined a few days before the event, taking into consideration the weather forecast.

Registration and more info: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., + 386 51 604 395.

Sea U There!