A total of 23 skippers have signed up and fulfilled the qualifying criteria to take part in the 23,000-mile Vendée Globe which starts from Les Sables d’Olonneon 7 November .

Seven nationalities are represented (England, Australia, Austria, Belgium, US, France and Switzerland), two women will be setting off and 14 skippers will be lining up for the first time for the single-handed, non-stop, unaided round the world race.

Among the skippers are several young sailors (around 30-years-old) such as Sébastien Josse, Vincent Riou and Conrad Humphreys, Karen Leibovici who will be competing alongside more experienced single-handed yachtsmen including Marc Thiercelin, Roland Jourdain, Jean le Cam, Mike Golding – most of whom have already several round the world trips under their belt.

The skippers and boats are due in Les Sables d’Olonne by 16 October in preparation for the start of the fifth edition of this race at 1300 on 7 November.

In the meantime, however, the preparations at the Vendée Globe Esplanade in Port Olonna are well underway. The 6,000 sqm village will incorporate many attractions including a big wheel, a craft village, an educational fun trail based around the sea for youngsters, and a business park.

Entry list

Patrice Carpentier

Patrick de Radigues

Jean-Pierre Dick

Raphaël Dinelli

Patrick Favre

Mike Golding

Charles Hedrich

Conrad Humphreys

Sébastien Josse

Roland Jourdain

Hervé Laurent

Jean Le Cam

Karen Leibovici

Anne Liardet

Nick Moloney

Benoît Parnaudeau

Vincent Riou

Bruce Schwab

Norbert Sedlacek

Joe Seeten

Marc Thiercelin

Alex Thomson

Dominique Wavre