The Vendée Globe supporting the New York–Vendée Transatlantic Race

by Agence Mer and Media on 27 May 2016 Yves Auvinet, President of the Saem Vendée and the Vendée Council leader was present in New York on Friday to offer his support to the “New York - Vendée (Les Sables) Race” and to greet the fourteen sailors from the next Vendée Globe, who will be lining up at the start of this transatlantic race on Sunday. An opportunity with five months to go to the start of the Vendée Globe to promote the international dimension of the event and to present the eighth edition to the American press and media.

At the press conference, which took place this morning (Friday) at the Conrad Hotel in New York, after praising the launch of this new transatlantic race, Yves Auvinet reminded everyone of the fundamental principles of the Vendée Globe, the only solo round the world race, involving sailors seeking adventure and including some of the world's leading ocean racers. On American soil, Yves Auvinet pointed out the cosmopolitan background of the sailors taking part in the Vendée Globe, who come from practically all the continents.

In particular, he paid homage to the American skippers, who have contributed to the history of the event, 'such as the late Mike Plant, who took part in the first edition back in 1990, Bruce Schwab, who finished ninth in 2005 and Rich Wilson, who will be lining up once again in November.”

President Auvinet also highlighted the six new foiling monohulls, which will be competing in the eighth Vendée Globe. “All of these new generation boats are proof of the spirit of innovation and technical research, which has surrounded the Vendée Globe from the start.”

Finally, talking about the changes in the use of digital technology, Yves Auvinet presented the latest digital communications tools, which will be available during the next Vendée Globe. “Innovative digital arrangements will enable millions of people to follow the race around the clock as it happens on all sorts of media: website, mobile apps, digital magazine, WebTV, 3D tracker…”

To conclude, President Auvinet reminded everyone of the reputation and the global audience attracted to the event, which as a reminder in the last edition generated 750 hours of TV programs, broadcast in 190 countries around the world.

The New York – Vendée transatlantic race
This morning's press conference was an opportunity to remind everyone that 14 skippers, including ten Frenchmen and four from other countries, will be lining up on Sunday at the start of this new transatlantic race organized by OSM (Open Sport Management). A genuine warm-up with five months to go to the start, this race will see all of the favorites for the next Vendée Globe battling it out over a 3100-mile long course.

Among the 14 boats setting off, the six new foiling IMOCAs will be present: Armel Le Cléac'h's Banque Populaire, Sébastien Josse's Edmond de Rothschild, Morgan Lagravière's Safran, Hugo Boss sailed by the British sailor Alex Thomson, Jean-Pierre Dick's StMichel-Virbac and Pieter Heerema's No Way Back.

In addition to these six boats, we should add the only IMOCA from the previous generation, which is now fitted with foils: Jérémie Beyou's Maître CoQ. For all of these foilers, this will be an opportunity to do battle for the first time across the Atlantic in downwind conditions, in other words, in conditions they will encounter in the next Vendée Globe.

Starting on Sunday
After a start which will be organized on Sunday off New York and a rapid crossing of the North Atlantic, the first boats are expected to reach Les Sables d'Olonne from 5th June. They will moor up at the pontoons in Port Olona and will be welcomed in the heart of a village set up on the Vendée Globe esplanade.