On 12 November 2028, from Les Sables d’Olonne, a new generation of sailors will set out to take on the most extreme challenge: sailing around the world, solo, non-stop and without assistance, on IMOCA 18-metre monohulls. To date, only 100 skippers have succeeded in this exploit, known to the general public as the ‘Everest’ of the seas.
For its 11th edition and 40th anniversary, the Vendée Globe remains true to its unique DNA, but 2028 will mark, as it does every edition, a new stage in the evolution of the race.
Registration opens 1,000 days before the start
The date was not chosen at random: on 16 February 2026, we will be 1,000 days away from the start of the race, and skippers will be able to submit their applications to the organisers. Sailors will then have to qualify to take part in this round-the-world adventure.
A fair and inclusive qualification system
To compete in the 2028 Vendée Globe, each skipper must have proven their experience by completing at least one Grade 2 solo race on the IMOCA 2025-2028 calendar on the boat they will be racing in the 2028 Vendée Globe, without exceeding twice the winner’s time.
Once this condition has been met, skippers must be among the top 37 in the IMOCA Globe Series championship, which is based on several criteria. In each race, skippers score points according to their ranking, the grade of the race and its format (solo, double-handed or crewed). To determine the final ranking, each competitor’s worst results will be discarded: only the nine best performances in grade 1, 2 or 3 races will be counted. The results of grade 4 races will all be counted and cannot be discarded.
“Based on lessons learned from previous editions and discussions held by the diversity committee, this new qualification method balances sporting fairness with recognition of the diversity of backgrounds and projects,” emphasises Alain Leboeuf, president of the Vendée Globe and the Vendée Department. Three wild cards may be distributed by the organisation to complete the fleet and reach a total of 40 participants.
2028, an even more committed edition
The 10th edition paved the way, and in 2028 the Vendée Globe will continue on its path, remaining true to its values and commitments, strengthening its contribution to ocean protection, exploring new avenues for sustainable innovation and placing inclusion and social commitment at the heart of the adventure.
Onboard scientific equipment & IMOCA energy autonomy
Each skipper must carry at least one scientific instrument, contributing to the knowledge and preservation of the oceans. In 2024, 25 volunteer skippers had already carried sensors, floats or buoys to collect valuable data in areas rarely studied due to very limited maritime traffic.
‘The Vendée Globe is an exceptional human and sporting adventure, but it is also a formidable laboratory for oceanographic research,’ emphasises Alain Leboeuf.
Another new feature in 2028: skippers will have to aim for energy self-sufficiency based on carbon-free energy. The goal is to limit the use of fossil fuels as much as possible, which will now be reserved for safety situations. Of course, there has never been any question of using the engine to propel the boat forward – sailors complete their round-the-world voyage using only the power of the wind – but they have always had to generate energy on board to power electronics, heating and communications with land. Until now, this production has combined fossil fuels and carbon-free energy; from now on, they will have to generate it from renewable sources.
‘This measure encourages teams to go further, to innovate and to find more virtuous solutions. It is essential for our ecosystem,’ emphasises Alain Leboeuf.
First solo qualifying stage: The Vendée Arctique Les Sables d’Olonne
More than just a competition, the Vendée Globe remains above all an adventure of daring and sharing. Alone on the ocean, the skippers push their limits while facing the immensity of the globe together. Already looking ahead to 2028, the Vendée Globe is preparing to write a new page in this extraordinary human adventure with the first solo race of the 2025-2028 cycle, the Vendée Arctique. It will start from Les Sables d’Olonne on 7 June 2026, heading for the Arctic Circle before returning to Les Sables d’Olonne…
