Vendée Globe: "Women are in the race and can also win!"

Departure watch for the Vendée Globe, the solo round-the-world race, non-stop and without assistance.

On Sunday, there will be 33 competitors on the starting line off Les Sables d'Olonne, a participation record.

Among them, six women.

And again, there has never been so many.

>> ALSO LISTEN -

 Vendée Globe: Charlie Dalin believes that the health crisis "gives him even more the mission of sharing his world tour"

Their absence, four years ago, had been noticed.

On this edition, they are back.

The most experienced, Samantha Davies, 46, the most Breton of the English, has nothing to envy to the favorites, if not an older boat.

"It's great, offshore racing is a mixed sport. There is no difference between men and women. I finished fourth in 2008, there was Florence Arthaud ... The women are in the race and can also win! ”enthuses Samantha Davies.

"I find it important that women show that it is possible"

Samantha Davies, Ellen MacArthur, Isabelle Autissier and Catherine Chabaud have already paved the way.

In their wake, Sunday, also appears Clarisse Cremer, a rookie of 30 years.

"I find it important that women show that it is possible", launches the one who embarks on an initiatory world tour.

“I often had thoughts, when I was in a mini 6.50, like: 'That's what you do for a woman'. With these boats, these huge machines, where it's much more physical, Paradoxically, I have this sentence much less. It is nice because it is a rather sad sentence ", confides the young sailor.

On the starting line, far from the clichés, there will be only one and the same ambition: complete the loop and why not, be high in the standings.