Favorite of the last Vendée Globe, young sailor Violette Dorange has taken the helm of the sailboat Initiatives Cœur, of which she has been co-skipper for a year, with a view to the next non-stop, unassisted and solo round-the-world trip, her team announced on Thursday.
At 24, she replaces British sailor Sam Davies, helmsman of the red Imoca since 2018, and will participate at the end of the year in the Route du rhum, a famous solo transatlantic, before setting sail for the Everest of the seas, the next edition of which will begin in November 2028.
“One more dream come true. It’s just crazy,” the Frenchwoman said on her Instagram account.
Upon returning from their respective Vendée Globe last winter – Davies finished 13th, Dorange, 25th – the two women sailed double-handed for a year so that the youngest could tame the foiling monohull.
The 51-year-old Briton had left doubts about her participation in a 5th Vendée Globe in a few years, wishing instead to support and train new sailors.
The Davies/Dorange duo finished 6th in the Imoca category during the Transat Café L’Or, between Le Havre and Fort-de-France last November.
“Taking over from my youth idol is incredible,” said Dorange, quoted in his team’s press release. It’s also a real challenge because in 2025 I was able to test this boat throughout the season and see to what extent foilers are faster, more demanding and more difficult boats. »
Davies and Dorange had in common that they had enjoyed enormous popular success on the Everest of the seas. In 2008-2009, her first Vendée Globe finished in fourth place, the Briton won over the general public with her tenacity.
Dorange also ended her 90 days at sea as a media phenomenon thanks to her infectious enthusiasm, in videos published every day on her social networks.
« I have a lot of room for improvement ahead of me to keep up with these boats at the head of the circuit, concluded Dorange in the press release. This is why I am very happy to be accompanied by a great team and by Sam who knows this boat by heart. I have worked a lot, made many sacrifices, and being able to race the Route du rhum then the Vendée Globe on this exceptional boat is a real consecration. I am so happy with this magnificent perspective. »
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