The Vendée Globe

THE EVEREST OF THE SEAS

The Vendée Globe is the most gruelling event in the sport of sailing, and is arguably the most challenging sporting event on the planet.
 
The solo, non-stop, unassisted round-the-world yacht race remains the pinnacle event in the offshore sailing calendar, with over 2 million fans visiting the race village ahead of the start.
 
The 42,000 km race is the stuff of legends, where real life heroes are made, racing in some of the toughest conditions on earth, yet still competing for every inch on the racetrack. In the latest edition, after 80 days at sea, the first 8 of the 33 competitors crossed the finish line within 24 hours of each other, showing just how close this competition is in this epic race!
 
A race like no other, the Vendée Globe brings people together. It inspires nations, with stories of resilience, mental toughness, survival, overcoming adversity and camaraderie in the harshest conditions on the planet. Covering 5 oceans, the race also educates the next generation about our oceans and our planet.

Facts:

26,000 miles / 42,000 kilometers
Solo
Non-Stop
Unassisted
Around the World
No Canadian has ever finished the Vendée Globe
Takes place every four years
Starts and finishes in Les Sables d’Olonne, France
With only 114 people ever finishing the Vendée Globe, more people have been to space than have successfully completed this gruelling round-the-world race.

CANADA’S HISTORY WITH THE VENDÉE GLOBE

No Canadian has ever completed the Vendée Globe.
 
There have been two previous attempts by Canadians to complete the grueling Vendée Globe race, neither have crossed the finish line.
 
The first Canadian, legendary Gerry Roufs started the 1996 Vendée Globe onboard his boat Groupe LG 2. Roufs was in the South Pacific, having rounded Cape Horn and was in second place, behind Christophe Auguin.
 
Violent winds in excess of 80 knots hit the race leaders, Roufs described the conditions to the Race Directors as “the waves are not mere waves, they are the Alps”.  The last message received from Roufs was received on 7th January 1997, not far from Point Nemo, the most remote spot in the South Pacific. Roufs was declared lost at sea, with the upturned hull of his boat spotted on 16th July 1997.
 
The second Canadian to take on the Vendée Globe was Derek Hatfield in 2008. Caught up in a violent storm, Hatfield capsized  south of Australia and consequently retired from the race.
 
Scott Shawyer wants to make history and become the first Canadian to complete this incredible race.
 
Recognising the challenges of those before him, Scott has built a strong team to support his quest. A team that is a healthy mix of offshore sailing legends who are focused on raw seamanship, embracing the most current high performance tools through the most modern technology, and a specialist shore team with strong project management, commercial and communications experience and expertise.
 
We have teamed up with Foxall-Munro in our quest to maximise our Be Water Positive purpose goals and to support our stakeholders.
 
Collectively this team will deliver a thorough training, activation and management program over the next 4 years, competing in the major IMOCA Class annual race schedule, ultimately leading into Scott’s Vendée Globe ambition in 2028.
“The Vendée Globe is an incredible test of ones mental and physical strength, and I have huge respect to all those who have taken on the challenge, got to the start line, and of course to those who have completed the race. I will leave no stone unturned as I embark on my journey to become a Vendée Globe skipper and to become the first Canadian to cross the finish line”.