Offshore success passes through USA

The glitterati of offshore racing are en route to the USA in 2024 as IMOCA skippers prepare for the 2024-25 Vendée Globe solo, non-stop, round the world race. With the greatest number of skippers expected for the start of the 10th edition on November 10 in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, there are two transatlantic races that will be important final qualifiers for field.

Held every four years, the Vendée Globe is the biggest event in the offshore world, with training to include The Transat CIC from Lorient to New York starting April 28, and then the New York Vendée-Les Sables d’Olonne sets sail May 29. While the Vendée Globe skippers will be keen to complete the races in one piece, the IMOCA sailors will also be looking to make their mark on the classic transatlantic course.

“We will see a good fight, like it always is,” said Antoine Mermod, President of the IMOCA Class. “We can expect two really good races because we know the skippers and we know that it is always very tough to sail these kinds of boats – you cannot do it by half. You need to be fully involved and also there are many boats that can win this Vendée Globe. That means you have to be on the limit and to do that you need to train in racing mode and these transatlantic races are the perfect opportunities for that.”