Saturday is the big day. At 13:02hrs (French, 1202hrs UTC) the twenty solo skippers who will compete in the Vendée Globe solo non stop around the world race take the start line, heading into the open ocean for their legendary passage round the three great Capes. As it is at each successive start, every four years Les Sables d’Olonne will be engulfed by huge crowds of passionate fans. Here is everything you need to know about following the race start on land and sea.
Start day
In Les Sables d’Olonne
Follow the signs to the Vendée Globe village where there will be live coverage of the docking out of the skippers (note that the pontoons will no longer be accessible to the public from Thursday, November 8, 20 hours). At 9:30 am, after the parade of legendary boats which starts at 0845hrs. Cheminées Poujoulat be the first to leave the pontoons Port Olona and boats will follow one another every 4 minutes, until 10:46. Banque Populaire will be the last to cast off. The famous channel from the marina out to the sea and also the main beaches will then be good places to watch the parade of boats.
Live and Direct TV
Thanks to a unique (13 cameras on land, air and sea, 5 live aboard IMOCA 60’s), the Vendée Globe start will be broadcast live on TF1, France 3, Planète Thalassa +, BFM TV, Infosport +, iTV, LCI, Sport +, L’Equipe TV and TV Vendée. Other channels will broadcast,” including France 3 Region (Upper and Lower Normandy, Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Poitou-Charentes). Internationally, six channels also broadcast live the start of the race: France 24, SkyItalia, nsport Léman Bleu Poland and Switzerland, BBC and ITV.
Find the complete list of channels broadcasting on the departure site www.vendeeglobe.fr, “How to watch the start.”
