Clarisse prepares to take on potentially the most important race of her career

The New York Vendée - Les Sables d'Olonne is a prestigious solo transatlantic race on board IMOCA 60 monohulls, which first took place in 2016. The second edition will start on May 29 2024 and 29 skippers plan to be on the start line. The New York Vendée will be the skippers' final challenge before the Vendée Globe and it is the last opportunity for them to earn qualifying miles for the solo round the world race at the end of the year. Each nautical mile sailed will earn 1.5 miles towards their Vendée Globe qualification, finalizing the lineup for the 2024 edition.

With the majority of boats taking part already fully qualified for the Vendée Globe, Clarisse and a handful of her competitors are still in the race for miles to secure one of the sought after spots available.  If Clarisse completes this race in time, she will earn the maximum miles available and all being well secure her place for the second time in the legendary solo round the world race.

With less than 48 hours to go, Clarisse and the other competitors are making their final preparations to take the start.  As they prepare to go back to sea, their focus turns to the weather and as of today it is forecast that they will face moderate conditions at the start, with “moderate winds and a 1.5-meter swell forecasted as they leave the Eastern seaboard” explains Alan Roberts, Clarisse's performance manager. “However, the IMOCA sailors will soon encounter a front between high and low-pressure systems, followed by a ridge of high pressure bringing lighter winds.”

Clarisse is eager to take on this new transatlantic which will take her home to France with fingers crossed her ticket for the Vendée Globe 2024.