Vendée globe 2024, the start as seen from a Yot 36
Every 4 years, the Vendée globe attracts an incredible amount of public interest.
The 2024 edition broke all records not only in terms of participation: 40 skippers took part, including 6 women, ready to sail 43,000 km around the world, in front of no fewer than 500,000 spectators at the start.
This year, Moteur Boat magazine was given the opportunity to embark on a boat and follow the start of this prestigious tenth edition.
This wonderful adventure took place aboard Yot 36, the Catana Group’s motor catamaran.
On D-Day, all the pleasure boats following the start had to leave Port Olona before 6am, which was closed to pleasure craft until 11.30am.
The Yot 36 was moored in Saint-Gille-Croix-de-Vie, so that’s where the motorboat team embarked for this exceptional day.
Heading towards the sands, at 4,000 rpm, the Yot 36 is making 20 knots to reach the start area and hope to catch a glimpse of the competitors.
At the finish, yacht 36 and all pleasure boats over 7m are parked in an area to the north-east of the competitors.
The Moteur Boat team is still waiting for the start on channel 16, while yot 36 is showing great stability.
That’s where the complexity of race starts lies, even if the water is calm, the presence of all these boats creates a chop that can become unpleasant when you stop.
But thanks to its virtual anchor, yot 36 remains stable.
The start was given at 13h02, but the lack of wind prevented the 40 Imoca boats from getting off to a flying start.
For half an hour, the safety zodiacs keep the boats at a distance from the yachts.
After this period, the motorboat team was finally able to approach the competitors.
In these oily seas, the yachts are difficult to manoeuvre, so yot 36 is sailing at reduced speed to avoid generating wake waves and finally closing on Alan Roura, who is neck and neck with Sebastien Marsset.
Despite the crowds on the water during the Vendée Globe 2024, the atmosphere is one of respect.
Respect for these men and women who are setting sail for 3 months around the world, in search of new challenges and freedom.
Everyone is aware that they are experiencing something exceptional.
