The all-new Vendee Globe

New post-Jeantot era dawns

In Paris this afternoon Phillippe de Villiers, President of the SEM (Vendée General Council), introduced the organisers for the forthcoming Vendée Globe 2004-2005 non-stop solo round the world yacht race with no outside assistance, for which the planned start date is Sunday 7 November. Alongside Denis Horeau, named as Race Director, there will be Sylvia Viant, President of the Race Committee, Bernard Bonneau, President of the Jury, Jean-Louis Conti, Measurement President and Dr Jean-Yves Chauve, responsible for medical services.

On 23 February 2004 the SEM Vendée became owner of the Vendée Globe and has since been working on the sporting organisation for the next Vendée Globe. Anxious to respond to the skippers needs and to maintain the sporting spirit of this event, the SEM relies on the professional expertise of IMOCA (International Monohull Open Class Association) and the French Sailing Federation to define the sporting entity. The latter comprises Race direction, a Race committee, an International Jury and a Measurement Committee.

Race Direction, managed by Denis Horeau

Denis Horeau knows the Vendée Globe well as he was race director in 1989-1990. Before 1990 he sailed with some of the key players in the sailing world and on many boats, both Open 60 mono and multihulls. Over the last ten years, Denis has overseen the direction of large nautical events, notably the Route de l’Or in 1998, the Race in 2000 and the Solitaire du Figaro for the past nine years.

Race Committee, headed by Sylvie Viant

Silvie Viant, member of the UNCL (National Union for Offshore Racing), has extensive experience of the Vendée Globe as she has been in this role since 1989, year of its conception. Furthermore she is also Committee President for various sea ocean races such as the Route du Rhum, the Transat Jaques Vabre, the Tour de France a la Voile, the Challenge Mondiale Assistance, the Course des Phares…

The Jury presided by Bernard Bonneau

Bernard Bonneau has extensive experience as a juror. The only French Juror at the Sydney Olympics and will be named vice president for the sailing challenges at the Athens Games. Vice president for referee commission for the French Sailing Federation, he is also heads the jury for races such as The Race, the Route du Rhum, the Volvo Ocean Race…

The Measurement Committee headed by Jean-Louis Conti

Jean-Louis is vice President of Measurement for the offshore sailing ISAF (International Sailing Federation). He also sits as Chief Measurement official for the IMOCA.

Medical Services, under Dr. Jean-Yves Chauve’s direction

Dr Jean-Yves Chauve has been the Vendée Globe’s doctor since its creation. Furthermore he practices/officiates on some of the most important offshore races such as the Route du Rhum the Trasat Jaques Vabre, The Solitaire Affelou le Figaro…

The SNS (Sport Nautique Sablais), for its expertise and knowledge of the route will complete the sporting entity for organisation for the tart of the Vendee Globe and to judge the arrivals.

The sporting organisation presented above will be completed with a Communication Services to be announced in the coming weeks.


The program

The SEM Vendée and the Race Director have announced the following outline of events, the race’s successful running permitting.

30 April Official Notice of Race
30 June End of Registration
16 October Boats arrive to the Sables d’Olonne/Race Village Opening
7 November Start of the 5th Vendee Globe at 1 pm

Dennis Horeau went on to announce the first major points in the Notice of Race such as:
- The registration rights - fixed at 10,000 euros, will be re-imbursed to each skipper who starts the race.
- prize money which will be 475,000 euros, 150,000 euros more than on the previous race.
- The Vendee Globe becomes in this way one has one of the world’s best endowments
Anxious to ensure maximum security, the SEM will support financially the IMOCA for any insurance related to disability or death.

With regards registrations, participants that wish to take part in the Vendée Globe will have until 30 June to register. The last qualifying race is the Transat, starting on the 31 May 2004 from Plymouth

All boats must be in les Sables d’Olonne by 16 October. In order to allow skippers and their crew to work in better conditions, the race pontoon has been lengthened by 86m and widened by 2 in order to reach a total size of 242 x 7m.

More than 5,000 m² will be opened to the public from 16 October until the 7 November, race start day. The whole of Vendée region is now preparing for this event. A new pontoon 140m long running parallel to the Vendée Globe one will be used in order to facilitate traffic at the village entrance.

Phillippe de Villiers has furthermore announced setting a computerised race-route installed in Paris from 8 November until the arrival of the first boat. This will be accessible to the public and will allow press to have access to all the necessary information throughout the race.