LES SABLES D’OLONNE - THE SANDS OF OLONNE
Les Sables-d’Olonne has a nautical consciousness that dates back to our first connection with the sea. During the Roman Empire it was an important crossroads thanks to its harbor Le Havre d’Olonne.
Famous as the leading cod fishing harbor into the 17th century, the Belle Epoque for Les Sables-d’Olonne really began in the early 1800s. The rising popularity of ocean bathing brought sophistication in the form of resort hotels, casinos, cafes and beach-front restaurants. The same ambiance that first attracted the aristocracy and artistic class is awake and flourishing today. Walk the beach front rambla and you will feel it for yourself.
Today, Les Sables-d’Olonne is famous for being the home of two of the world’s most epic sailboat races; the Vendée Globe – a single-handed, non-stop, yacht race around the world aboard some of the most innovative racing machines, and the other is the Golden Globe – a solo, non-stop around the world race, but this time, aboard 32ft to 36ft production yachts designed prior to 1988 with a full-length keel and limited technology.
Everest of the sea - THE VENDÉE GLOBE
Every 4 years, the world’s top solo sailors set out from Les Sables-d’Olonne to compete in something so mad, so daring and so epic that only a handful of sailors have ever summoned the courage to attempt it – sail around the world alone. They sail night and day without stopping, without assistance and without seeing another single human.
Since the first race in 1989, 200 sailors have competed while only 144 have crossed the finish line. It is no wonder it is often called the Everest of the Sea. The popularity of this event cannot be exaggerated; over 2 million people visited the Vendée Globe pavilion during the start of the last race, and the sailors themselves are celebrities.
Stepping back to the Golden Age of Solo Sailing
In 1968, nine men started the first solo non-stop sailing race around the world. Only one finished.
The Golden Globe was the first-ever attempt to sail solo non-stop around the world. There was no entry fee, virtually no rules nor qualification requirements. These nine sailors had varying skills and an odd collection of sailing yachts.
And it was the most unlikely sailboat – a 9.75m ketch-rigged double-ended yacht Suhaili – helmed by Robin Knox-Johnston – that placed first. In fact, it was the only yacht to finish the race. The rest either sank, retired or committed suicide. The tragic outcome of the race inspired movies and novels, most notably a book aptly titled A Voyage for Madmen by Peter Nichols.
The next race is slated for September 2026 and is bound to be an adventure worthy of past explorers and sailors.
WHERE YOUR YACHT IS BUILT MATTERS
Intelligent design and outstanding craftsmanship are a given, but what makes Alubat the single best aluminum sailing yacht today has much to do with where it is built. The Alubat shipyard shares the land and sea with many of the world’s most accomplished sailors. Everything that matters in the world of sailing is happening here and has a direct influence on the yachts they launch.
Welcome to Les Sables-d’Olonne: the home of the Vendée Globe, Golden Globe, and the home of Alubat.
