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What makes the Vendée Globe the world’s most extreme Yacht Race

Founded by experienced French yachtsman Philippe Jeantot in 1989, the Vendée Globe is the only solo, non-stop, and without assistance sailing race round the world. It takes place every four years, begins and ends in les Sables d’Olonne and takes around two to three months. In 2017 skipper Armel LeCléac’h finished the race in 74 days 3 hours and 35 minutes, a new record. The 9th edition of this unique and challenging sporting event departs from the Vendée shores on November 8th 2020.What is Vendée Globe? In theory, the interpretation of the Vendée Globe is simple. It is a solo, non-stop, without assistance sailing race in which the skippers circumvent the globe. That’s 40 075 kilometers (21 638 miles) in a sailboat measuring 18.28m or 60ft long, the most powerful in the world. In theory.  Reality is much more complicated. On a personal level, the skippers spend months alone on a …