After the 2020 edition of the Vendée Globe generated unprecedented interest, the elite solo round the world race increased the number of places at the start to 40 IMOCA competitors for the 2024 edition.

The qualification rules had been strengthened since 2020, which required the sailors to take the start of two solo races and finish at least one of them between 2022 and 2024, in a time that does not exceed the winner’s time plus 50%. Among the 44 entrants, 42 skippers managed to qualify.

The limit was deemed necessary for safety reasons and to preserve the unique and exceptional characteristics of this race, with organizers having to make the final cut for the entrants to start on November 10, 2024.

With the aim of encouraging innovation, the 13 new boats were automatically selected. The 26 other projects were selected on the basis of the number of miles raced since the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021.

This left three projects to choose from for the 40th place, the “wild card” given out by the organizers. Oliver Heer, the skipper having covered the most miles of these three projects was selected.

“It wasn’t an easy choice, as these three skippers are extremely deserving,” explained Alain Leboeuf, President of the Vendée Department and the Vendée Globe. “I consulted a number of people, including the president of the IMOCA Class and my race director. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to play the selection game and decide between them in the order of the mileage rankings, thereby respecting the rules of sport.”

The nine previous editions enabled 200 contenders to take the start of this non-stop race, with 114 managing to cross the finish line. Armel Le Cléac’h, winning in 2017, holds the course record of 74 days 03 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds. Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux in 2001 and 2009. The 24300 nm course begins and ends in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.

2024 Entrants:
• Fabrice Amedeo (Nexans – Wewise) – FRA
• Romain Attanasio (Fortinet – Best Western) – FRA
• Eric Bellion (STAND AS ONE) – FRA
• Yannick Bestaven (Maître CoQ V) – FRA
• Jérémie Beyou (Charal) – FRA
• Arnaud Boissières (La Mie Câline) – FRA
• Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée) – FRA
• Conrad Colman (MS Amlin) – USA/NZL
• Antoine Cornic (Human Immobilier) – FRA
• Manuel Cousin (Coup de Pouce) – FRA
• Clarisse Crémer (L’Occitane en Provence) – FRA
• Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) – FRA
• Samantha Davies (Initiatives-Cœur) – GBR
• Violette Dorange (DeVenir) – FRA
• Louis Duc (Fives Group – Lantana Environnement) – FRA
• Benjamin Dutreux (GUYOT environnement – Water Family) – FRA
• Benjamin Ferré (Monnoyeur – Duo for a Job) – FRA
• Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE) – GBR
• Pip Hare (Medallia) – GBR
• Oliver Heer (Oliver Heer Ocean Racing) – SUI
• Boris Herrmann (Malizia – Seaexplorer) – GER
• Isabelle Joschke (MACSF) – FRA/GER
• Jean Le Cam (Tout commence en Finistère – Armor-lux) – FRA
• Tanguy Le Turquais (Lazare) – FRA
• Nicolas Lunven (Holcim – PRB) – FRA
• Sébastien Marsset (Foussier) – FRA
• Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) – FRA
• Justine Mettraux (TeamWork – Team SNEF) – SUI
• Giancarlo Pedote (Prysmian) – ITA
• Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) – FRA
• Alan Roura (Hublot) – SUI
• Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE) – FRA
• Damien Seguin (Groupe APICIL) – FRA
• Kojiro Shiraishi (DMG MORI Global One) – JPN
• Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) – FRA
• Maxime Sorel (V and B – Monbana – Mayenne) – FRA
• Guirec Soudée (Freelance.com) – FRA
• Denis Van Weynbergh (D’Ieteren Group) – BEL
• Szabolcs Weöres (New Europe) – HUN
• Jingkun Xu (Singchain Team Haikou) – CHN