Vendée Globe 2024: here are the 40 qualified skippers, Pedote on the starting line

The organizers of the Vendée Globe, the nonstop, unassisted, solo round-the-world race, have made official the entry list of 40 skippers who will take part in the 2024 edition, starting Nov. 10 from Los Sales d’Olone. The 40 passed a qualification that included completing a solo ocean crossing, aboard the boat in which they will take part in the Vendée Globe, and a total measure of nearly 5,000 miles run solo, among other things.

Among the 40 skippers will be Italy’s Giancarlo Pedote aboard Prysmian, with the Tuscan dreaming of completing his second Vendée, after an excellent 2020 round-the-world race that ended in eighth place, the best result ever for an Italian at the round-the-world race without stopovers and assistance.

Vendée Globe 2024 – Not just the French

There was a time when this regatta was practically almost the exclusive preserve of the French: they invented it, they were for decades a step ahead of everyone in the world of ocean challenges. Sailing, however, has radically changed, and as can be seen in the smaller oceanic classes such as the Mini 650s and Class 40s, French hegemony is no longer what it once was, both in terms of results and numbers. And this Vendée Globe 2024, which will deploy a fleet that is yes majority French, but genuinely international, also demonstrates this.

In fact, 13 non-French skippers will be on the starting line: in addition to Pedote for Italy, England, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, Hungary, China (this is a first at the Vendée Globe) and New Zealand will be represented. After France, the most represented nations will be England and Switzerland, who will field three skippers each at the start.

It will also be the most all-female Vende Globe ever, in fact there are six women on the starting line: the French Clarisse Cremer, Violette Dorange, the French-German Isabelle Joscke, the British Pip Hare and Samanta Davies, and the Swiss Justine Mettreaux.

Vendée Globe 2024 – The Favorites

Hard to make a prediction in a race that will also be an elimination race, like all Vendée Globe races. There are many variables at play, human, mechanical, and meteorological, and not only will the skipper’s technique and performance count, but also the boat’s tightness will play a crucial role,

That being said, and in light of the results of the last Imoca 60 regattas, for the super favorites for the final victory in our opinion one must start with a roster of at least 5 skippers. Charlie Dalin and Yoann Richomme perhaps start one step ahead of everyone, but also watch out for Thomas Ruyant, Jeremie Beyou, and Yannick Bestaven, the latter last year’s winner.

For Giancarlo Pedote and Prysmian, however, the realistic goal seems to be to finish the regatta as well as possible, trying to get into the top 10. Despite numerous upgrades Prysmian is an older generation boat and does not have the same performance as the new Imoca boats, but as mentioned the Vendée Globe is an elimination race, anything can happen.

Mauro Giuffrè