For its second edition after its launch in 2020 - which took the skippers on a loop in the North Atlantic passing near Iceland - the solo race reserved for Vendée Globe boats (the Imoca, 18 m monohulls) will offer this year a journey of 3,500 miles (about 6,500 km) as close as possible to the polar circle.

The competitors will leave Sunday (5:00 p.m.) from the starting town of the Vendée Globe to go up to Iceland, circumvent the volcanic island by crossing the Arctic Circle and return to Les Sables-d'Olonne.

"The most important race of the season is the Route du Rhum. On paper, the most difficult will surely be the Arctic Vendée because it's longer than the Route du Rhum, we're going to sail with conditions very changeable weather, unlike the Route du Rhum where you end up being in the trade winds. There, we go towards the cold, areas where the depressions circulate quite quickly", underlines with AFP Charlie Dalin (Apivia), second in the Vendée Globe 2020/2021.

French skipper Charlie Dalin, aboard his monohull "Apivia", during a sea trip on June 19, 2020 off the coast of Port-la-Forêt, before the start of the Arctic Vendée on July 4 from Les Sables d'Olonne JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER AFP/Archives

"Never Night"

Dalin did not hide his impatience to discover this new playground, a month after winning the first race of the season, the Guyader Bermuda 1000.

“There is a good chance that we will sail along the Icelandic coast as if we were sailing along the French coast from Calais to the Gironde estuary. The effect of the winds will be even more marked, there will surely be less sleep. The positive point is that it never gets dark up there, it's going to be quite magical that thing, "he continues.

French skipper Charlie Dalin, aboard his monohull "Apiva", before a sea trip, September 24, 2021 in Concarneau, before the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre, November 7 from Le Havre Fred TANNEAU AFP / Archives

The skipper will sail aboard his monohull launched in 2019, while awaiting the release of his brand new flying sailboat, scheduled for May 2023.

"There is a certain family resemblance (between his two boats)! We are trying to make a more efficient boat, faster than those (used) at present", he notes, highlighting his experience acquired during his last four years during which he learned to ride an imoca.

Dalin is one of the three sailors who raced in the last Vendée Globe on a new boat and to have embarked on the construction of a new machine this year, with Jérémie Beyou (Charal) and Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut), 6th in the Vendée Globe 2020/2021 and which will have its future monohull in January 2023.

On the string

"Often people ask me: why are you changing? The boat I'm making today isn't intrinsically faster, but it's about increasing our average speeds. Our boats require a lot of attention, energy, we are on the edge all the time. The idea is to have a hull, foils, sails that allow less demanding solo sailing," Ruyant told AFP, "quite excited" by the Arctic Vendée.

The "LinkedOut" monohull, helmed by French skipper Thomas Ruyant, leaves the port of Les Sables d'Olonne, during the start of the Vendée Globe, November 8, 2020 JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER AFP / Archives

"There are plenty of ingredients that will make it a dense, physical race, with a lot of transitions, turnarounds in corners that we don't know," he slips.

Second in the Guyader Bermudes 1000, Beyou will take his last start with his current boat while waiting for the new one, delivered on his return from the Arctic Vendée.

"The boat is painted, it feels like the end. When I arrive (in Les Sables-d'Olonne) the boat will be finished, the foils mounted. It will make you want to arrive quickly!", he explains to l AFP, considering that "the Arctic Vendée is not necessarily the right race to hire a new horse".

French skipper Jérémie Beyou, aboard his monohull "Charal", after finishing 13th in the Vendée Globe, on February 6, 2021 upon his arrival in Les Sables d'Olonne LOIC VENANCE AFP / Archives

"It's a low-stone course with boats that aren't too suitable for that. But it's going to be interesting, there will be moves to be made. And it would be nice to get to see the island, it looks pretty fabulous," Beyou says.

The winner is expected around June 23.

© 2022 AFP