June 3rd and 4th will officially mark the start of the festivities for the Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne 2022, the first single-handed, without assistance, and non-stop Vendée Globe 2024’s qualifying race.
On this occasion, four events will take place this weekend to launch this new sailing race in the best possible way. See below the program and explanations of these first highlights of the Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne 2022.
FRIDAY, JUNE 3rd, 9:30 PM: GREAT PARADE OF THE VENDÉE GLOBE 2020-2021 SKIPPERS
To launch the summer season, the festivities will begin on Friday, June 3rd, 2022 with the Great Parade of the 2020-2021 Vendée Globe Skippers, to celebrate these men and women of the sea. The show will start from the Place de Strasbourg at 9:30 pm and will go to the Casino des Atlantes. A privileged moment of sharing between the public and the skippers who made them dream during these times of pandemic and confinement.
“The challenge of the 4 elements”
This Great Parade orchestrated by the teams of Maindron Production will present a parade of street companies and floats on the theme of the 4 elements:
The earth. Our skippers left and found the land almost alien after more than 80 days at sea.
The water. Big, beautiful, but also often fiery, untamable and without concession for its lovers, the sea will of course have its place in the parade.
The fire. Close to the roaring forties, the lightning and the storm in the night…
The air. The one of the gusts, the one that pushes toward the finish line.
The Great Parade will end with a pyromusical show by the Jacques Couturier Organization fireworks teams visible from the Grande Plage des Sables D'Olonne from 11:00 pm.
List of the 28 skippers present during the Great Parade:
Fabrice Amédéo (Newrest - Art&Fenêtres), Romain Attanasio (Pure - Best Western), Alexia Barrier (TSE - 4myPlanet), Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ IV), Jérémie Beyou (Charal), Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline - Artisans Artipôle), Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2), Manu Cousin (Groupe Sétin), Clarisse Crémer (Banque Populaire X), Charlie Dalin (Apivia), Sam Davies (Initiatives Cœur), Benjamin Dutreux (OMIA - Water Family), Kévin Escoffier (PRB), Clément Giraud (Compagnie du Lit / Jiliti), Pip Hare (Medallia), Ari Huusela (Stark), Isabelle Joschke (MACSF), Stéphane Le Diraison (Time for Oceans), Miranda Merron (Campagne de France), Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian Group), Alan Roura (La Fabrique), Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut), Damien Seguin (Apicil), Kojiro Shiraishi (DMG MORI Global One), Sébastien Simon (Arkéa Paprec), Maxime Sorel (VnB Mayenne), Armel Tripon (L'Occitane en Provence), Nicolas Troussel (Corum l'Epargne).
SATURDAY, JUNE 4th, 9:00 AM: INAUGURATION OF THE VENDÉE ARCTIC - LES SABLES D'OLONNE 2022 VILLAGE
On Saturday, June 4th at 9:00 am, Alain Leboeuf, President of the SAEM Vendée and the Vendée Department, will inaugurate the starting village in the presence of the media and partners. This will be the start of three weeks of festivities, communion and sharing in the Vendean city, for the general public and the entire sailing community.
This race, with its unprecedented course, promises to be a great spectacle in the waters of the Far North. The enthusiasts are looking forward to follow the adventures of the 25 skippers. The race village is a very popular place for the public to come and admire the impressive IMOCA boats at the pontoon and enjoy the various free and fun activities.
SATURDAY, JUNE 4th, 5:30 PM: IMOCA RUNS IN THE BAY OF THE SABLES D’OLONNE
Saturday June 4th, at 5:30 pm, exhibition Runs will take place in the Baie des Sables with the skippers, for the great pleasure of the public who will be able to attend and observe the boats from the Grande Plage des Sables d'Olonne. Spectacle, performance and speed will certainly be on the agenda.
The Runs will be commented live on the event village with the rankings of the time trials displayed in real time on the big screen, but also accessible on the race website : vendeearctique.org
The principle is simple:
Course against the clock in the bay of the Sables d’Olonne (Axis and distance of the course according to the weather conditions)
2 Runs for each boat
1 time between the start and the finish for each Run.
These Runs will also be an opportunity for the skippers to observe each other, to take control of their boats but also and above all to exchange and share before the big start which will take place the following week (Sunday, June 12th).
SATURDAY JUNE 4th, 9:30 PM: PRESENTATION OF THE SKIPPERS
At the end of the Runs, the village stage will welcome the 25 skippers for a presentation to the public around 9:30 PM.
Image: SAEM Vendee