Vendee Globe. 45 potential competitors at the start of Les Sables-d'Olonne in 2024!

Victory contenders

A new Verdier plan for the winner of the Vendée Globe

A few days ago, Yannick Bestaven and Maître CoQ announced the construction of a new boat to win the Vendée Globe 2024. A Verdier design designed in the molds of the 11th Hour monohull and which will be built at CDK. The construction has already started. Yannick Bestaven hopes to achieve a double in the master event.

Charal 2 by Manuard

Jérémie Beyou and Charal announced last May the launch of the construction of Charal 2 at CDK in Lorient. A Manuard design which we do not yet know if it will be built in the same mold as Bureau Vallée 3. Launch scheduled for June 2022.

An existing shell for Kevin Escoffier

Unlucky competitor of the 2020 edition, Kevin Escoffier intends to take his revenge in the Vendée Globe. Jean-Jacques Laurent, boss of PRB, had also announced just after his rescue that his commitment with the skipper would continue for the next race around the world. With a new boat therefore, the construction of which had begun for another project with a view to The Ocean Race. The hull of the Verdier foiling plan is being finished at the Carrington shipyard in England.

Malizia 3 under construction

Here is another who dreams of taking his revenge. Boris Herrmann, potential winner of the Vendée Globe saw his pretensions of victory shattered a few hours before crossing the line when his boat collided with a fishing boat. The German intends to turn this page by leaving with a new boat. A VPLP plan built at the Multiplast shipyard.

A scow for Sam Davies?

Sam Davies dreams of being able to line up with a competitive boat in the next Vendée Globe. The British sailor, who has completed her circumnavigation outside the race, will therefore try to convince Initiatives Cœur to follow her until 2024. With which boat? It would seem that his choice fell on the sister-ship of Bureau Vallée 3 (ex-L'Occitane en Provence) whose construction has already started at the Black Pepper yard. A Manuard design which could well compete with her husband Romain Attanasio's boat.

A new boat for Ruyant and Dalin?

If 6 ^th place was not up to his ambitions, Thomas Ruyant has not ended his story with the Vendée Globe. The skipper of LinkedOut wants to return in 2024 with a goal of victory. With the same boat or a new machine? Discussions are ongoing. His sponsorship contract ending after the Route du Rhum 2022, the construction of a new boat would not start until next year. Ditto for Charlie Dalin who told us that he was waiting for confirmation of the extension of his sponsorship contract with Apivia before making a decision.

The former L'Occitane en Provence for Burton

Louis Burton, third in the Vendée Globe, quickly took the lead (a bit like in 2016 by buying the winning boat Banque Populaire VIII) by buying Armel Tripon's scow from L'Occitane en Provence as soon as the round the world race arrived. The handling of the Manuard design renamed Bureau Vallée 3 built at Black Pepper has already begun with a participation in The Ocean Race Europe last spring.

They leave with higher ambitions

From Superbigou to the winning boat of the Vendée 2016

This is our favorite of this last Vendée Globe. Pip Hare, the British sailor who completed her world tour with an old boat, Superbigou, and with one of the smallest budgets is leaving for a world tour with a foiling boat. Her sponsor, Medallia, had quickly confirmed its commitment even before the arrival of the sailor, confirming an upward sporting objective. It's done with the acquisition of Bureau Vallée 2 (ex-Banque Populaire VIII, VLPL plan and winner of the Vendée Globe 2016).

11th Hour for Benjamin Dutreux

His boat having been sold to Guirec Soudée, Benjamin Dutreux, 9 ^th in the Vendée Globe, can now take care of the rest. Winner of The Ocean Race Europe with Offshore Team Germany, the skipper from Sand created a surprise during the last Vendée Globe. It would therefore not be surprising if he created it again and this time with a 2015 foiling boat which is none other than 11th Hour (ex-Hugo Boss), VPLP-Verdier design.

The Vendée Globe winning boat for Damien Seguin

A time of interest to buy the former Malizia 2 from the German Boris Herrmann, it is finally with the winning boat of the last Vendée Globe (Yannick Bestaven's Maître CoQ) that Damien Seguin intends to set off on a round the world trip. The skipper who was impressive during the 2020-2021 edition with his daggerboard boat will thus be able to play in the big leagues with a plan resulting from the collaboration between VPLP - Verdier and built in 2015 at CDK. For Damien Seguin, 7th ⁱⁿ the last Vendée Globe and triple Paralympic medalist, the sporting objective will be to aim for a top 5.

The old Malizia 2 for Romain Attanasio

Never 2 without 3. Romain Attanasio is setting off again on a new four-year campaign with a view to the Vendée Globe 2024. This time with a modern boat which is none other than the former Seaexplorer – Yacht Club de Monaco (Malizia 2) of Boris Herrmann, 2015 VPLP-Verdier design, who finished 5th ⁱⁿ the last Vendée Globe despite colliding with a fishing boat a few miles from the finish. Renamed Fortinet-Best Western, the repaired boat is now in the hands of Romain Attanasio, who is counting on gaining 20 days on his next round the world trip. The skipper has already been able to take advantage of his new toy, as evidenced by this impressive photo (see above) which clearly shows the power of the foils.

Apivia's sister ship for Maxime Sorel

Maxime Sorel has also launched the construction of his new IMOCA V & B Monbana – Mayenne. The 60-footer, Verdier design and Apivia's sister ship, is being built by Multiplast for the hull and Mer Concept for the deck and assembly. Launch scheduled for summer 2022.

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A low carbon boat

Stéphane Le Diraison has also announced that he intends to start a third Vendée Globe campaign with a new "low-carbon" boat which should produce 30% fewer carbon emissions during its construction. He had told us about it during an interview before departure.

They make their debut in IMOCA

An older generation Imoca for Guirec Soudée

The adventurer Guirec Soudée embarks on the Vendée Globe adventure. This was revealed by our colleagues from L'Équipe a few weeks ago. Currently rowing across the North Atlantic, Guirec Soudée has not yet officially announced it, but it should line up at the start in Les Sables-d'Olonne with Omia – Water Family, the former daggerboard boat of Benjamin Dutreux. A Farr design built in 2007 with which the young Sablais worked remarkably well.

A boat under construction for Violette Dorange?

During our interview last March, the 20-year-old sailor did not hide her ambitions from us: to participate in the Vendée Globe 2024. Still looking for a budget, Violette Dorange could well ensure her participation by having a new boat built probably in existing moulds. To set up such a project, she will surely be able to rely on the expertise of Jean-Pierre Dick, a friend of the family.

The former Banque Populaire sold to Benjamin Ferré

Another newcomer to the Vendée Globe. Last January, Benjamin Ferré, 3rd ⁱⁿ the Mini-Transat 2019 in Series, announced on his networks his desire to take part in the next Vendée Globe by launching a sponsorship campaign. The 30-year-old entrepreneur may well have found a partner and is well on the way to buying Banque Populaire X on which Clarisse Crémer completed her world tour. The boat rented for the race belongs to Mer Agitée. Back in Port-la-Forêt, the boat – 2010 VPLP – Verdier design and winner of the 2011 Vendée Globe with François Gabart – could therefore again welcome a former minister as skipper.

Louis Duke and his Phoenix

Louis Duc is also well on the way to realizing his dream of crossing the three capes. Without a partner, the skipper bought Clément Giraud's former boat last winter (which had caught fire at the quay just before the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019). A bet that pays off since it has just announced the arrival of a title partner to enter its 2006 Farr plan in the Transat Jacques Vabre. But Louis Duc is still looking for partners to succeed in fully financing the project.

A Retais on the Vendée

Antoine Cornic is also one of the newcomers. Originally from the Ile de Ré, the skipper began his career in 2001 with the Mini-Transat. To carry out his dream, the former minister bought Spirit of Canada, an Owen Clarke design which was supposed to race in the last Vendée Globe with Jack Bouttell as skipper. Let's hope that Antoine Cornic will have better luck with this boat renamed EBAC.

Those who leave with the same boat and those who haven't found it yet

Among the skippers who have announced that they want to leave with the same boat are Fabrice Amedeo, Giancarlo Pedote, Kojiro Shiraishi and potentially Isabelle Joschke. Changes will probably be integrated into their new project.

Arnaud Boissières meanwhile is still looking for a boat to buy to try to complete a 5 ^th Vendée Globe. His first choice was his friend Yannick Bestaven's winning boat before it was sold to Damien Seguin. Just like Alan Roura and Sébastien Simon who no longer have a sponsor to accompany them around the world. Like Miranda Merron and Armel Tripon who still hope to be at the start in 2024.

And what about Jean Le Cam? Well, he might also have a new boat built… with daggerboards!

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