At a press briefing held on 2 April, the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne revealed the first names of the skippers entered for its 2026 edition, as well as the race management team that will ensure the sailors’ safety. As the first qualifying race for the 2028 Vendée Globe, the competition is more than ever establishing itself as a major event on the IMOCA calendar, marking the start of a new sporting cycle for the sailors competing in the next round-the-world race.
Before heading to the Far South in 2028, the sailors are heading to the Far North.
A solo, non-stop, unassisted race, the Vendée Arctique – Les Sables d’Olonne is the first qualifying race for the 2028 Vendée Globe. Classified as a Grade 2 event – the highest level of difficulty after a round-the-world race – the Vendée Arctique is much more than just a preparatory race. The winner will earn 200 points in the race to qualify for the 2028 Vendée Globe.
“The Vendée has always had a special connection with the ocean and overcoming challenges. After the Far South, sailors now turn their attention to the Far North — and it is from the Vendée that this new cycle begins, leading us all the way to the 2028 Vendée Globe. The Vendée Arctique is not a preparatory race: it is a race in its own right, demanding and unprecedented, sending solo skippers across the Arctic Circle for the first time at the longitude of their choice. An open-air strategic laboratory, where daring and decision-making will make all the difference. This diverse and promising field already offers a taste of what the 2028 Vendée Globe will be like.”
— Alain Leboeuf, President of the Vendée Department and the Vendée Globe
The 2026 edition represents a major change: for the first time in the history of offshore racing, the route is not set in stone. Skippers will have to cross the Arctic Circle (66° North) at the longitude of their choice, based on their weather analysis and strategy. This unprecedented format opens up a wide range of possible routes, reinforcing the demanding and challenging nature of the Vendée Arctique.
To ensure the safety of the sailors, an experienced race management team has been nominated, led by Mathias Louarn. He will be supported by Pierre Hays and Claire Renou, his deputies. Pierre, who has been involved since the very first edition of the Vendée Arctique, and Claire, who joined the team for the 2022 edition, bring valuable knowledge of the race and its challenges. They will be joined by Alan Roberts, a skipper with practical expertise in the latest generation of IMOCA yachts, gained notably alongside Clarisse Crémer in preparation for the 2024 Vendée Globe.
An additional figure will bolster this already strong team: Yannick Bestaven, winner of the 2020–2021 Vendée Globe, who will act as a safety consultant. Drawing on his experience of the open seas and extreme conditions, he will prioritize the skippers’ safety.
The 2026 Vendée Arctique today unveils the first ten names in a line-up that is international, mixed, and intergenerational:
- 10 skippers entered
- 30% women
- 40% international skippers
- 5 nationalities represented (FRA, ITA, HON, UK, USA)
- 70% of first-timers in the Vendée Globe and Vendée Arctique races
Registered skippers (registration closes on 11 May 2026):
- Ambrogio Beccaria (Italy) – ALLAGRANDE MAPEI
- Arnaud Boissières (France) – APRIL MARINE – CHERCHE CO-PARTENAIRE
- Élodie Bonafous (France) – ASSOCIATION PETITS PRINCES – QUÉGUINER
- Francesca Clapcich (Italy/United States) – 11TH HOUR RACING
- Manuel Cousin (France) – COUP DE POUCE
- Violette Dorange (France) – INITIATIVES-CŒUR
- Nico d’Estais (France) – CAFÉ JOYEUX
- Sam Goodchild (United Kingdom) – MACIF SANTÉ PRÉVOYANCE
- Corentin Horeau (France) – MACSF
- Szabolcs Weöres (Hungary) – NEW EUROPE
This line-up brings together a wide variety of competitors: ambitious newcomers, established figures in ocean racing and international skippers, all driven by the same goal: to test themselves in an extreme race and take a key step towards the 2028 Vendée Globe.
A race village will be open to the public from 30 May to 7 June 2026 in Les Sables d’Olonne, on the Vendée Globe esplanade. Designed as a place for meeting and sharing, it will offer immersion in the world of sailing and the Far North, combining exhibitions, discussions, entertainment, and concerts. Environmental issues will be at the heart of the programme, with participation from scientists and activists. The official opening on 30 May will feature an introduction to the skippers and a spectacular drone show in the evening in the Bay of Les Sables d’Olonne.
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