The Vendée Globe 2024 – raising the bar

The 2024 race was one of the toughest yet, filled with triumphs and dramatic twists. Helly Hansen ambassadors were at the heart of these stories, each facing their own unique battles with the ocean.

Alan Roura, sailing on Hublot, completed his third Vendée Globe, finishing 18th. For the Swiss sailor, this race was a battle against the elements and technical challenges. He crossed the finish line just 20 minutes behind the sailor in front of him.

Romain Attanasio, aboard Fortinet-Best Western, gave an emotional recount of his time at sea: “On board, it’s completely insane! Every second, you’re dealing with something new.” His words encapsulate the unpredictability of the race and the mental fortitude required to endure it.

For Giancarlo Pedote, the Vendée Globe was a constant game of adaptation. “This race is like a restaurant where you don’t get to choose your menu,” he remarked, highlighting the reality that sailors must be prepared for whatever the ocean serves up.

Another Helly Hansen ambassador, Maxime Sorel, 37-year-old French skipper of V and B-Monbana-Mayenne, faced an early and unfortunate exit from the 2024 Vendée Globe. Just five days into the race, Sorel sustained a partial rupture of the external ligaments in his ankle, coupled with irreparable damage to his mainsail's track—issues that rendered him unable to continue. He was the first to exit the race, making the tough call to abandon the competition in Madeira. There, he swapped his high-speed foiling yacht for a pair of crutches. Despite this setback, Sorel remains resilient, shifting his focus to future endeavors, including the 2025 Transat Jacques Vabre.

One of the race’s most gut-wrenching moments came when British sailor Pip Hare, another Helly Hansen ambassador, suffered a dismasting incident about 800 nautical miles south of Australia. After two years of meticulous preparation and training, her race came to an abrupt and devastating end. Yet, in true Vendée Globe spirit, her focus was not on disappointment but on resilience. Despite the heartbreak, she vowed to return, proving once again that in this race, grit and perseverance often matter the most.

This year’s Vendée Globe was not just a showcase of human endurance but also a demonstration of how far the sport has evolved. The latest foiling IMOCAs flew over the waves at speeds once deemed impossible, with new records set for both distance covered and overall race completion time. The bar has been raised once again.

Yet, while technology plays a crucial role, the true essence of this race lies in the people behind the sails. It’s the sailors who push themselves to exhaustion, battle monstrous waves, and navigate the remotest corners of the planet — completely alone. It’s their mental strength, hours of preparation, and unbreakable spirit that make the Vendée Globe one of the most formidable sporting challenges in the world.

The podium may belong to Dalin and his extraordinary race, but in the Vendée Globe, finishing itself is an achievement worth celebrating. The race officially ended on March 8th, when skipper Denis Van Weynbergh returned to Les Sables-d’Olonne after 118 days at sea – exhausted yet victorious. He was greeted by crowds who understand that crossing that finish line is the culmination of years of work, endurance, and passion.

For Helly Hansen, this race is a reflection of everything we stand for: professional-grade performance, resilience in the harshest conditions, and the pursuit of adventure. Our ambassadors have once again proven their mettle on the world’s toughest stage, reminding us all of what it truly means to stay and feel alive.