Yesterday, 12th June 2022, was the departure, in Les Sables d'Olonnes, France, of the second edition of the Vendée Arctique race (the Arctic Vendée), which is a sort of short version of the amazing Vendée Globe.
Like the Vendée Globe, the Vendée Arctique is single-handed, non-stop and without assistance.
The introduction website in English explains that the Vendée Arctique is "a demanding 3500-mile course racing into hostile, northern, Arctic waters. The sailing conditions are expected to be tough, similar to those encountered in a Vendée Globe."
The Vendée Arctique is a qualifying race for the Vendée Globe. To be qualified, skippers will have to take part in at least one other major race. The list of these races is in the introduction.
This year, twenty five skippers of several nationalities will compete against each other in the Vendée Arctique. You might be able to follow and support your country's skipper:
- 1 Italian skipper: Giancarlo Pedote. Number 03.
- 1 Belgian skipper: Denis Van Weynbergh. Number 09.
- 1 skipper with French German dual nationality: Isabelle Joschke. Number 10.
- 1 Swiss skipper: Alan Roura. Number 13. His boat is now "Hublot".
- 1 Hungarian skipper: Szabolcs Weöres. Number 17
- 1 British skipper: Pip Hare. Number 23
- 1 skipper with New Zealand USA dual nationality: Conrad Colman. Number 24.
- 1 Japanese skipper: Kojiro Shiraishi. Number 25.
- and 17 French skippers.
