Watch the Vendée Globe from camping Les Pirons
Immerse yourself in the exhilarating atmosphere of the Vendée Globe race by staying at Camping les Pirons.
Every year, the coveted Vendée Globe attracts a huge crowd, so it’s often difficult to find accommodation nearby. Fortunately, Les Pirons campsite is here to welcome you and help you make the most of this exciting event.
Les Pirons: the ideal place to make the most of the Vendée Globe
For the legendary Vendée Globe race, your Aloa Vacances campsite in Les Sables d’Olonne is opening its doors to welcome you. By booking your stay, you will be able to watch the start of the race.
The campsite offers a range of mobile homes, so you can choose the one that suits you best. Equipped as if you were at home, you’ll find everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable stay at our campsite, just 7km from the start of the race.
Camping Les Pirons is ideally located for those who want to stay close to the Vendée Globe and be sure to have a great time in our company. You’ll be able to discover the start village and the event from the comfort of your own home, just a stone’s throw away.
After visiting the Vendée Globe village, you can relax and recharge your batteries in the peace and quiet of the Vendée. Don’t hesitate to book your accommodation at Les Pirons campsite now.
Setting course for the Vendée Globe
The Vendée Globe: An Epic Single-handed Round-the-World Race
The Vendée Globe is a not-to-be-missed event at the seaside resort. This legendary solo round-the-world race brings together skippers from the four corners of the globe. They sail their 60-foot monohulls non-stop and without assistance. The goal is simple: to complete the circumnavigation and, of course, beat a new record. The race was created in 1989 and is now considered one of the toughest in the world. Sailors must cover almost 25,000 miles against the wind and the tide, crossing the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans seasonally.
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The Vendée Globe is usually held in the autumn, between October and November, and attracts many enthusiasts and the curious! Before the start of the race, the starting village gives you the chance to see the boats, visit the exhibitors’ stands and discover what goes on behind the scenes of this extraordinary event.
Its history and origins
The Vendée Globe follows on from the Golden Globe Challenge, inheriting some of its principles. The Golden Globe was the first non-stop single-handed round-the-world race organized in the ’68s by the British newspaper “The Sunday Times” on the initiative of Sir Francis Chichester. Although nine competitors took part, only Robin Knox-Johnston successfully completed the race.
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The ocean race began on April 6, 1969, when it arrived in the large port of Falmouth, in English Cornwall. Unfortunately, the organizers didn’t repeat the event. We had to wait another twenty years for a new race, albeit with a few variations. The idea for the new race – the Vendée Globe – was conceived by sailor Philippe Jeannot, winner of the BOC Challenge.
The race was first held in 1989 and lasted over three months in freezing conditions. Only 7 of the 13 participants finished, with Titouan Lamazou coming in first, followed by Loïck Peyron and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede. Since then, the race has been held every four years.
During the second edition, two sailors lost their lives, American Mike Plant and Englishman Nigel Burgess. As for Bertrand de Broc, he cut his tongue. This reveals the extreme difficulty of this event. Alain Gautier won this session after 110 days at sea. Jean-Luc Van Den Heede came second and Philippe Poupon third.
Despite the loss of life, the popularity of the race has not waned. Nine editions have been held, with 167 participants.