For the first time in the history of the Vendée Globe, we saw eight competitors follow one another on the pontoons of Les Sables d’Olonne in the space of 23 hours and 44 minutes. 23 hours and 44 minutes of joy and emotion, as intense as this planetary regatta which will have been played through contact from start to finish. It was not until the arrival of Jean Le Cam on Thursday evening to put a final order in the hierarchy of this crazy race.

This Tuesday January 12, 65 days after the cannon shot on November 8 in front of Les Sables d’Olonne, the first 5 IMOCAs are starting a new start.

All scenarios are possible on this 64th day of racing off the coast of Rio de Janeiro as the weather conditions blur the tracks to reach the trade winds.

On one side, half of the fleet, off Argentina, engaged in the Battle of the Atlantic. On the other, sailors embroiled in successive and active fronts in the Pacific. On both sides of the South American continent, two worlds are opposed.