Many people this Monday on the pontoons.

-

David Phelippeau / 20 Minutes

  • In less than a week, no skipper will be present on the Sables d'Olonne pontoons.

  • All have the obligation to confine from November 1, some have already been isolated for several days, even weeks.

  • This Monday, more than half of the fleet was still present to greet the large crowd.

Virginie, a teacher on vacation, and her daughter Lola, pause in front of the green boat V and B-Mayenne.

"He is there, I see him ...", launches the little girl.

Maxime Sorel, the skipper, is in the middle of an interview on the deck of his boat.

The two women do not regret having made the trip to the Bordeaux region to see the "adventurers".

Finally, those who are still there in Les Sables d'Olonne, two weeks before departure.

Maxime Sorel, on his boat, with students from Mayenne.

- David Phelippeau / 20 Minutes

"A little more than half are still present [there will be 33 for this edition]", indicates the management.

The other half is already confined.

For a long time for some.

No trace of Briton Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss for example.

Some bad tongues do not hesitate to point out that he even stood out by his absence for the official photo… On Sunday November 1, the skippers will no longer have a choice, they will have to remain confined until the start on Sunday 8. He There are therefore only a few days left to hope to see the sailors still present in Les Sables d'Olonne.

Maxime Sorel assumes his choice to remain visible to the general public as long as possible: “It's a choice on my part.

I feel like I owe all of this to these people.

I find it normal to be present and to do a few signings.

These are people who dream through what we do and we owe them that!

"Exactly the opinion of Jean-François, who came to Sables d'Olonne for a long weekend:" It's so huge what they do, it was important to me to be there.

Afterwards, they make so many sacrifices to make this race that I understand that some have been confined for a long time.

"

Forbidden to take ... selfies with the skippers

Thomas Rouillard on Linkedout and Louis Burton on Bureau Vallée 2, for example, left to stand aside Thursday evening.

Nicolas Troussel (Corum L'Epargne) was isolated two days before.

Armel Tripon on L'Occitane en Provence plans to go behind closed doors “with his coach in accommodation at La Chaume” at the end of the week.

He does not regret being still there near the crowd which grows over the course of the day: “Maybe I will only do one Vendée Globe so you have to live it, you have to share it with the public.

It's so nice to be there.

"

At the microphone, health conditions require, the speaker nevertheless reminds onlookers several times a few simple rules.

In particular the impossibility of taking "selfies with the skippers".

Instructions perfectly understood by the public, who had to reserve slots upstream to gain access to the pontoons.

Frédéric, who came from Touraine, is not offended, quite the contrary.

For many, the visit is even “more qualitative”.

“There are in fact a lot less people than in previous years, rejoices Thomas de Vendée.

We get around more easily.

"

The public is free to take pictures of the skippers still there.

- David Phelippeau / 20 Minutes

At the beginning of the afternoon, this Monday, the queue has nevertheless grown considerably, despite the rainy and increasingly windy weather.

The flow is managed by many volunteers.

The mask is obviously compulsory.

Hydroalcoholic gel is distributed at various strategic points.

“There is real vigilance to be had, it is anxious,” says skipper Armel Tripon all the same.

No one gets on board, at the cockpit level.

"Maxime Sorel, who will be confined in a week, is well aware of" taking more risks "than the sailors who quickly isolated themselves.

“Before, we visited the interior of the boat, this is no longer the case,” he explains.

We also try to do the interviews as much as possible outdoors.

I consume a few liters of gel every day and I change masks four times a day.

I have someone who passes the posters to people so that I don't have contact with them.

I think the public understands the situation and is not disappointed that they cannot get closer to us.

“To see the smiles on the pontoons at 5 pm this Monday, that's for sure.

Sport

Vendée Globe: Thomas Rettant relies on a dream team for his solo round-the-world tour

Sport

Vendée Globe: Only 9,000 people will be able to attend the start of the race

  • Covid 19

  • Confinement

  • Coronavirus

  • Vendée Globe

  • Sail

  • Sables d'Olonne

  • Sport