The Everest Of The Seas, Vendée Globe, starts in Les Sables d'Olonne, France. It's time to find out why this is regarded as the greatest sailing race round the world. Solo, non-stop and without assistance - a record 33 skippers, including 6 women, representing nine countries, take to the water fo...

The start of the Vendée Globe - near perfect 10 knots SE breeze and flat seas at the gun - sending the lone 27 men and 6 women off on their gruelling 24,296 nautical mile round the world challenge. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

One boat returns to port for integral mast repairs and hot favourite gets tangled with fishing nets. Otherwise everyone is relieved to get started on their epic journey around the globe. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

It's all about Theta - not the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet but a sub tropical storm.. Gamble or play safe? Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Eventful night for the whole fleet coping with a bumpy ride but there is good news and bad news.. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Everyone is now settling in after their adrenalin pumping first four days. Let's meet some of the skippers and their stories so far - Alan Roura, Boris Herrmann, Pip Hare, Gancarlo Pedote and Ari Huusela. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Day and Night - no respite for the 33 Vendée Globe sailors - certainly no duvet day with sub tropical storm 'Theta' just around the corner. Thomson leading the charge, Herrman giving weather forecasts and Shiraishi trying to get into the Master Chef final. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Produc...

Beyou returns to port, speed instruments go wild and mast climbing for several of the skippers. Pip Hare captured the Vendee Globe spirit perfectly "It's five days and I feel l've lived a lifetime!" when she looked out over the Atlantic Ocean horizon. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production ...

Nicolas Troussel is the first competitor to retire from the 2020 Vendée Globe after a de-masting. Positive news is Jérémie Beyou, Charal, is to rejoin the race tomorrow plus a extensive showcase of some of the other skippers including Sam Davies's haircut, Alan Roura's VG's Got Talent audition an...

Great news is that Jérémie Beyou is back in the race. Not surprisingly it was an emotional send off by the french fans and Charal's supporters. Meanwhile the boys were taking the opportunity to clean themselves up.. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Alex Thomson crossed the Equator with just one minute before exactly ten days from the start gun. Boris Herrmann and Maxime Sorel help UNESCO and OceanOps with a special focus on Isabelle Joschke. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

It was the turn of the rest of the leading fleet to give praise to Neptune in the traditional way with a drop of something. A toast for Neptune, the boat and more importantly the skipper! Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Alex Thomson, Hugo Boss, is still leading but the two french skippers, Thomas Ruyant and Charlie Dalin, have guillotined his lead into just 13 miles. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Thomas Ruyant, LinkedOut takes the lead from Alex Thomson. It could be a smart move to take a tighter route to the Capte of Good Hope or has he turned too early? Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Twists and turns over the last 48 hours in the Vendée Globe at the front of the remaining 32 boats. Charlie Dalin, on APIVIA, has moved up to first, Hugo Boss is down at fifth and Jean Le Cam maybe the tortoise vs the hares.. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport...

After 15 days at sea, the remaining 32 boats are spread far and wide with over 3000 miles between Charal at the rear and APIVIA at the front. Maybe they're just crazy.. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Critical damage to LinkedOut's port foil, Sam Davies and Louis Burton taking a flyer down south and Alex 'Bob The Builder' Thomson gets back up to speed - action packed episode for Day 18.. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

The 48 hour wind forecast has never been so important for so many of the front runners. The gap, 700 nm between the top ten boats, could plummet quickly with Burton and Davies trying for the sling shot into the infamous Roaring 40's and catch Dalin. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

...

Thomas Ruyant amputates, Charlie Dalin times it to perfection and Sam Davies is whooping hitting the Southern Ocean. Action packed episode and uncomfortable viewing for foil lovers. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

If - being a Vendée Globe skipper, Hugo Boss retires after starboard rudder damage, Charlie Dalin has a 300 mile cushion and the fleet arrive in the Southern Ocean. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Kevin Escoffier, aboard PRB, triggered his distress beacon at 13:45 this afternoon. Jean Le Cam and three other boats have shifted course to assist. What is an EPIRB and what training is given to the top ocean skippers in this nightmare situation? Alex Thomson's insight into how he feels about re...

Drama in the Southern Ocean - Kevin Escoffier was successfully rescued by Jean Le Cam after having to abandon his IMOCA 60, PRB, this morning. Interviews with the sailors and Vendée Globe Race Team. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Extended Programme - The aftermath of an IMOCA 60 snapping in half - Kevin Escoffier and his search and rescue team explain what happened in the middle of the Southern Ocean. Thankfully everyone is safe and well. Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Production

Video Producer: VR Sport Media

Is it déjà vu? Another smashed foil - this time it's Sébastien Simon who has suffered from a submerged object crashing into his starboard foil this morning. Plus it's all rock and roll with Yannick Bestaven plus the french President calls Jean and Kevin! Footage ©Vendée Globe / Nefertiti Producti...