The Vendée Globe is one of the most celebrated yachting events in the world – unofficially, the Olympic Games of ocean racing! Traditionally, the race departs from (and returns to) the sea-side resort of Les Sables d’Olonne in Vendée.

The Vendée Globe pits competitors against the forces of nature as the participating yachtsmen and women navigate their Imoca Open 60 class, monohull vessels, singlehandedly, on a course, 43,000 kilometres in length, which will see them circumnavigate the globe.

The seventh Vendée Globe gets underway at 3 p.m. precisely on Sunday, 11th November but the start of the race represents the culmination of weeks of events at Les Sables d’Olonne where a race village will be in place from mid-October.

In autumn 2012, with summer a fading memory, Les Sables d’Olonne will become the busiest resort on France’s Atlantic coast. The Vendée Globe Race Village will be in town for three weeks from 20th October to 11th November 2012. The race village will extend over 15000 square metres with various exhibitions and events recalling great moments from previous Vendée Globe, yacht sales, chandlery items and lots more on a maritime theme. Visitors will be able to view competing yachts moored alongside 4000 square metres of jetties.

Images: Main Image - Course of Vendée Globe single handed round the world race. Photo: Michel Desjoyaux's winning yacht pictured 2008.

In the short video below, the calm of the crowd-lined harbour at Les Sables d’Olonne gives no clue to the dangers which the Vendée Globe competitors will face on the open oceans.