This Sunday, at precisely 1:02 PM, the long-awaited start of the Vendée Globe was unleashed. Forty skippers, driven by dreams as vast as the sea itself, set off on a legendary voyage—solo, non-stop, unassisted—embarking on a journey of over 24,000 nautical miles (around 45,000 km) around the globe.

They sailed into fickle winds, whispering between 4 and 7 knots, a gentle beginning to what will be an epic race. The serene start was a stark contrast to the morning’s whirlwind of emotions. At dawn, between 8 and 10 AM, they cast off their moorings after tearful farewells on the docks. As they navigated the iconic channel of Les Sables-d’Olonne, they waved to the hundreds of thousands who had gathered, shoulder to shoulder, lining the quays with cheers and hope, a sea of faces there to send them off.

In those final moments before the gunshot start, the last crew members took a leap into the water, leaving the skippers alone with the boundless ocean ahead. Tonight, as the wind begins to rise, they will face their first night at sea—just them, their boats, and the infinite horizon. It’s the start of a journey measured not just in miles but in heartbeats, a dance with the elements, and a testament to human spirit across the vast, untamed oceans.