The Vendée Globe aims to use the media impact of the event to raise public awareness of ocean conservation throughout the round-the-world race. By sailing around the world, the Vendée Globe sailors are highlighting the fragility of our oceans faced with global warming. They are direct witnesses to the changes underway, particularly around Antarctica, a region that is under particular threat.
The Marion Dufresne, a great explorer of the Indian Ocean
Owned by the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF), the Marion Dufresne, one of the largest scientific research vessels in the world sails on all non-icing oceans. Its unique corer extracts sediments that reveal climate variations. Outside of the period of charter to the French Oceanographic…
The Vendée Globe watched over from space with CLS
As the skippers race in the sometimes ferocious Southern Ocean close to Antarctica, the Vendée Globe is paying extra attention to look after the sailors’ safety. A virtual zone called the Antarctic Exclusion Zone (ZEA) has been set up around Antarctica, prohibiting skippers from getting too close…
The Agulhas Current, giant swirling whirlpools at the crossroads of three oceans
At the southern tip of the African continent where the Atlantic, Indian and Southern Oceans converge, is the Agulhas Current which forms giant whirlpools several hundred kilometers in diameter. This current is feared by skippers mainly for the the sea conditions which can be kicked up.
Argo day: good start for the argo floats!
They are launched! The starting signal for Argo-Day was given today. The ten skippers who volunteered to embark Argo floats have been given the green light to deploy them. Their mission: to help build up the scientific database by collecting information in maritime areas which are remote and less…
Encounter with the Marine birdlife of the Vendée Globe
The skippers in the Vendée Globe are not only sailing with the winds and currents, but also in the company of some fascinating marine birdlife. The entry into the Southern Ocean was marked by the aerial dance of seabirds, captured on video by the skippers.
80%
of contamination in the marine environment comes from the land.
Everything you need to know about Biodiversity Protection Zones
The safety of sailors is essential for the organization of the Vendée Globe, as is the preservation of marine fauna and flora all the way along the race course. To limit the risks of collision with marine megafauna, two Biodiversity Protection Zones (ZPB) have been set up on the course around the…
Isabelle Autissier: "On the Vendée Globe, you belong to the ocean"
A renowned competitor on the 1996 Vendée Globe, Isabelle Autissier has developed a passion for the Big South. As head of the TAAF* advisory group, she will be aboard the French supply ship Marion Dufresne which plies the deep south moving between the French territorial islands in a few weeks. But…
30%
is the proportion of CO2 from human activity absorbed by the ocean.
The Vendée Globe, UNESCO and the IMOCA Class: when sport and science join forces to protect the ocean
Twenty five sailors who will take part in the Vendée Globe 2024, the biggest ever solo round-the-world race, racing non-stop and without assistance, will take scientific equipment provided by UNESCO and its scientific partners on board their IMOCA yachts to deploy during the race as they look to…
42
scientific stations are open and active year-round in Antarctica.
In brief
United Nations World Oceans Day will be will be celebrated in the village of New York Vendée race
Icebergs, navigation and sea level
In the old days, icebergs in the Antarctic could completely disrupt shipping routes. Today, the number of icebergs is directly linked to changes in sea levels.
3,7°
is the average temperature of the ocean
Our ocean partners
