Vendee Globe: how to follow the start

On Sunday 10 November, the 40 Vendée Globe skippers start of the 10th edition of the legendary solo round the world race from Les Sables d’Olonne in France. And so from 0800hrs (local time/0700hrs UTC) they and their IMOCA boats will leave the pontoon one-by-one, every three minutes. The first to cast off will be Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance), one of the favourites for the event. The sailors will then go down the famous channel to the open sea, an opportunity to bid them farewell one last time. For the sailors, their teams and for the thousands of well wishers who turn out and line the sides of the channel, these are emotional, historic moments. The Vendée Globe will start at 1302hrs (1202hrs UTC).

The final preparations will continue on Saturday 9 November, with the teams' activity reaching a peak. To guarantee safety and efficiency of operation for the skippers and their teams, the pontoon will be closed to the public from Saturday until Sunday afternoon. The number of visitors to the village is expected to be very high for this eve of the start.

Follow the start from home

Two Start Live programs will be produced by the organisation, the first from 0730hrs 1030hrs for the pontoon and channel departures, then from 1215hrs to 1400hrs for the sea start. Thanks to advanced technical means, real-time data and new graphic design, these live broadcasts promise to be exciting, informative and entertaining for the public.

Several options are available to spectators to follow the start from home:

The Start Live on television

Will be broadcast all over the world, across 190 territories.

In France, viewers will be able to follow the event on France 3, the L'Equipe channel, Infosport+, the MAX platform or as part of the TF1, France 2 and M6 newscasts. All day long, the main non-stop news channels (CNEWS, BFM TV, FranceInfo, LCI) will cover the start while many regional channels (TV Vendée, Tébéo, Tébésud, etc.) will also broadcast the start live.

In the rest of the world, and particularly in the countries where the international skippers come from, the crossing of the line of this round the world race will be widely broadcast:

-in the United Kingdom on the TNT Sports channel
-in Germany: the platforms of the ARD/ZDF Group
-in Belgium: the platforms of RTBF, VRT and DH as well as the channels LN24 and Sport10
-in Switzerland: the RTS platform and the Leman Bleu channel
-in Hungary: MTVA and Hir TV
-in the United States: the Outside TV channel
-in China: CCTV in China
-in New Zealand: Sky Sports 
In total, 66 TV channels and digital platforms will broadcast the exceptional images of the live start.

Digital

The event will be broadcast live on the Vendée Globe's YouTube channel, the race's website, and the official Facebook page.

Follow the start in Les Sables d'Olonne

In the Vendée Globe village

The village will open its doors at 0700hrs on the day of the start. On the day, the same as for all other days, you will need to bring your e-ticket. Giant screens will broadcast the live shows and the stands will remain open until 8 p.m. to extend the experience.

The Les Sables d’Olonne channel

Spectators will be able to gather along the channel, which is equipped with sound for the occasion, to accompany the passage of the 40 boats. As the public is expected to be present in very  large numbers, the organization calls for mutual respect and help to guarantee everyone an optimal experience. On the La Chaume side, a giant screen will be installed at the foot of the Arundel Tower.

The embankment

It is also possible to see the start from the main beach of Les Sables d'Olonne, binoculars are nevertheless recommended to better appreciate the show.

A giant screen will be positioned at the nautical base, close to the channel, oriented towards the large beach in order to enjoy the Start Live.

Be careful, traffic will be considerably disrupted in Les Sables d'Olonne from the evening of 9 November, all the information can be found on the city's website.

Other viewpoints around the city

For those who prefer less crowded places, the beaches of Tanchet, the Puits d'Enfer, the bay of Cayola, as well as the beaches of La Paracou and Sauveterre also offer views of the starting area. However, you will need binoculars to enjoy the show.

These areas are Natura 2000 areas (SPA FR5400469 Pertuis Charentais & SPA FR5212015 Marine Sector of the Île d'Yeu), the organisation invites the public to be particularly vigilant to respect fragile ecosystems: stay on the marked trails, respect the instructions on site, leave no waste and avoid any trampling so as not to endanger animal and plant species on these sites.

On the water

Boaters will also be able to watch the start at sea from a specific area that can be consulted on the interactive map of the Vendée Globe. Port Olona will be closed from 0600hrs to 1130hrs. From 1130hrs to 1300hrs only outings will be allowed. Compliance with safety instructions and increased vigilance are essential for the smooth running of the departure at sea. The GPS coordinates of the zones can be downloaded from the website, as well as the prefectural decree.

Thanks to this entire system, everyone will be able to fully experience the emotion of this departure, a moment of high intensity celebrating adventure and challenge!