The Vendée Globe, which started on Sunday, also takes place on computer and smartphone thanks to the Virtual Regatta offshore racing simulator.

More than 600,000 players have already registered in a few days, clearly beating the record set four years ago.

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The Vendée Globe has been in full swing since Sunday for the 33 sailors.

But this is also the case for more than 600,000 virtual browsers who race on their smartphone and their computer, in their living room.

The game Virtual Regatta, an offshore racing simulator, has indeed been an impressive success this year, largely beating the number of players registered in the last edition of the Vendée Globe four years ago.

Europe 1 met Michel, a 71-year-old retiree living in Mâcon, Saône-et-Loire, passionate about this simulation.

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He wakes up in the middle of the night to adjust the course

Michel is participating for the third time in this virtual Vendée Globe.

His computer sits on the living room table and on the screen, Michel's boat sails off Portugal, in the midst of the entire fleet.

"I am currently in an area where there is a wind of 13 knots. I have to be starboard, to have the wind on the right. On the other hand, if I turn, I will have the wind on the other side. sailing. It's fun because we run with the stars, like Jean Le Cam. "

Michel has even become totally addicted, to the point of shortening his sleep to guide his boat as well as possible.

"That night I came to see what was happening at 4 am and I adjusted my course," he says.

To improve his performance, he, like many players, made modifications to his ship.

"I chose options to go faster."

Help from his wife to keep up with the three-month race

This passion for Virtual Regatta has become contagious for Monique, Michel's wife.

"I installed it on the computer because he only had it on his phone. From time to time I intervene to tell him to check. We are a crew, like in real life", assures- she does.

And indeed there will not be too many two to hold the bar for at least three months.

On Wednesday, Michel's boat was ranked 72,000th out of more than 600,000.