WE ARE IN! Vendée Globe place confirmed

Today, the race committee of the Vendée Globe confirmed that Ollie will be on the start line of the 10th Edition Vendée Globe starting November 2024.

This means Ollie is still on track to fulfil his dream of competing in this ultimate sailing challenge.

Ollie also makes history as the first Swiss German sailor to secure a place in the Vendée Globe!

A complex selection Process

Ollie’s journey to selection has been a nail-biting drama.

The selection process for one of the coveted spots in the Vendée Globe is complex and considers multiple factors such as the age of the boat, the qualifying miles sailed by the and several other criteria.

The first step was qualification, which we achieved back in 2022 by completing the Route du Rhum, a single-handed transatlantic crossing to Guadeloupe. However, the Vendée Globe organisers set a limit of 40 participants, and 44 skippers achieved this qualification milestone by the required date.

Securing a Spot

For the past two years, our focus has been securing a good position in the selection table. We were on track to be comfortably mid-table, until-the rigging damage we suffered in the Transat Jacques Vabre race in October last year forced us to retire. This set=back cost us nearly 7000 miles, and we slipped down the table to position 41.

The WildCard Factor

The top 39 skippers gained automatic selection, while the 40th position was held as a wildcard to be used at the discretion of the race management.

Ending weeks of tense and dramatic speculation, the Vendée Globe committee announced at a press conference on Tuesday 2nd July, that they would not use their wildcard, instead reverting to the mileage selection table. This meant Ollie secured the coveted 40th place and his spot on the startline of the 10th edition of this iconic race.

Ollie comments “I am beyond delighted with the decision of the Vendée Globe committee today. Being in position 41 has been incredible stressful for myself and the team. We have put our hearts and souls into preparing the boat and completing both transatlantic races, despite some significant setbacks.

“I can’t thank all of my partners and supporters enough. I know it has been an anxious waiting time, and your messages of support have meant the world to me.

“I am extremely proud to be the first Swiss-German to compete in the Vendée Globe. I hope I can inspire some of our younger sailors to pursue offshore racing. With my place now confirmed, I can fully concentrate on preparing myself and the boat for sailing’s greatest offshore challenge in November.”