IMOCA Return To Base Vendee Globe Skipper Qualifier Latest Sam, Conrad, Isobelle, Violette, Le Cam

A total of 30 solo sailors, including Boris Herrmann, tackled the North Atlantic for this first Return to Base from the Antilles to Lorient having started on Thursday 30th November 2023. Contestants left the heat of the Caribbean behind to race solo back to the Old Continent. If the Retour à la Base also attracts so many sailors, it's because the race is a qualifier for the Vendée Globe 2024. It's also the only single-handed race in 2023, so it's a good way to get ready for the big round-the-world race next year. For the time being, however, only 31 boats are sure of taking the start. Tanguy Le Turquais is still racing in the Transat Jacques Vabre, with 677 miles to go. As for Jean Le Cam, who did not take part in the double-handed transatlantic race, he is currently on a delivery trip with Bernard Stamm, sailing off the coast of Morocco... in other words, we're going to have to put the pedal to the metal to get the Return to Base underway.