How To Follow The Start of the 2020 2021 Vendee Globe

A record sized fleet of 33 skippers will start the ninth edition of the Vendée Globe: the 24,296 nautical miles solo non-stop round-the-world race from Les Sables d’Olonne in France, this Sunday at 1302hrs French time/1202hrs TU.

Live coverage starts from 0655hrs TU. In addition to the French TV channels, 28 international TV channels / digital platforms (c/w. 21 in 2016) will broadcast all or part of Direct Start in 190 Territories (vs. 147) – see networks

In Europe
Germany: ZDF * / RTL * / NDR *
Belgium: RTBF Auvio (OTT)
Croatia: SPTV
Spain: Teledeporte (RTVE) / Esport3 (TV Catalunya) / TV Galicia
Great Britain: BT Sport 1
Greece: Action 24
Italy: Sky Sports *
Norway: TV2 Sport
Sweden: Sportkanalen
Switzerland: RTS / SRF *
Pan Europe: Eurosport Player (54 Territories)
Pan Balkans (7 territories): Sport Klub

Africa
Egypt: ON Sport
Pan Sub-Saharan Africa: Supersport (52 Territories)
Asia Pacific
China: Zhibo TV
Japan: TV Asahi
Malaysia / Brunei: Astro
Australia: Seven (OTT) / SBS
New Zealand: Sky Sport
Pan Asia: Fox Sport (20 territories)

World
France 24 (190 territories)
Olympic Channel (190 territories)
Edge Sport (26 territories)
Nautical Channel (42 territories)
* Channels showing the direct departure for live or delayed coverage in news bulletins

TV PRODUCTION FACILITIES (French Times)
International signal timing
In the Channel: 7:55 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Coverage of the Start: 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

NEW FEATURES:

– New director of the International Signal: Anthony Forestier (also director of the international signal of the Tour de France cycling)
– New graphics design with individual tracking data directly from the boats (speed, heading, deviations, etc.)
– The international signal is enriched with content (skippers’ portraits, 3D boats, Vendée Globe archives) for international broadcasters (in parallel with the traditional international signal)
New stabilized system (GSS) of cameras installed on helicopters
New system of live on-board cameras (Ektacom) in 4G making it possible to recover the warning signals from the 33 boats
– 12 cameras will be used in the live start production, which will be added to the 33 cameras of the competitors, for a complete immersive experience of the solo sailors’ life on board at the start. For the first time, live images will be enhanced by digital packaging incorporating boat speed and heading, weather information, skipper files, and visualization of the starting line, etc.

THE START

The start procedure begins 8 minutes before the gun fires with the warning signal. At 4 minutes before, for the preparatory signal, the skipper must be alone on board, follow the countdown and take the line at the start signal at 13:02hrs local time.

If an IMOCA crosses the line too early, it incurs a penalty of 5 hours which they will have to complete on course before the latitude 38 ° 40 N (just north of Lisbon latitude). For safety reasons there is no opportunity to turn back and recross the line. A competitor who has not crossed the starting line 60 minutes after the signal will be considered as not starting. They will have to wait until a time indicated by the race committee to start again. No departure will be given after November 18, 2020 at 1:02 p.m when the line closes.

English coverage commentators are Alec Wilkinson, Mike Golding and Dee Caffari

Follow the start on the internet
LIVE: 07:55 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 14:00 p.m. French times TU+1hr

On www.vendeeglobe.org and the Vendée Globe Application…. for the live TV broadcast.
Also, articles and updates, last quotes from the skippers. Tracking activated as soon as the boats leave the port.

How to follow the race?

Tracking is initially updated every minute until 1500hrs French Time.
Official rankings are 0400hrs, 0800hrs, 1100hrs, 1400hrs 1700hrs and 2100hrs
Website www.vendeeglobe.org/en
Vendée Globe Live English Live at 1330hrs French time/1230 TU each day 26 minutes live show on web/social networks

By prefectural decree, traffic and pedestrians will be prohibited on the main beach, the channel and the perimeter of the commercial port and Olonna port from 7 am to 11 am Sunday, November 8.