The Vendée Globe is recognized as the most challenging solo, non-stop, and unassisted round-the-world race. It traces the legacy of the Golden Globe, the inaugural circumnavigation of this kind, navigating past the three capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin, and Horn). The first Vendée Globe set sail from Les Sables d’Olonne in November 1989, and since then, nine editions have taken place. Of the 200 competitors who have started the race, only 114 have succeeded in reaching the finish line, a testament to the sheer difficulty of this challenge which traverses the world’s most treacherous seas, testing the limits of sailors, vessels, and equipment alike.
On November 10th, 2024, 40 skippers embarked on the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe, with Gottifredi Maffioli once again serving as the supplier for the race. The Novara-based company provides one-design unidirectional slings for fore and aft rigging which, notably utilizing Dyneema, deliver superior performance paired with exceptional reliability under the most extreme conditions — essential attributes in this prestigious competition. Additionally, when it comes to sailing lines, over half of the fleet entrusts Gottifredi Maffioli, selecting products from the Grand Prix range, specifically engineered to ensure reliability and high breaking loads.
Photo credits: Martina Orsini, Pola.ryse, Szabi-racing, Zsomborvisuals
Luigi Maffioli, Technical Director of Gottifredi Maffioli, affirms: “The Vendée Globe is a race that pushes both sailors and equipment suppliers to their utmost limits, demanding optimal performance even in the most arduous situations during this solo circumnavigation of the globe. The complexity of modern boats has required dedicated efforts from our entire technical development team to devise solutions that meet the performance requirements of this new generation of Imoca 60s.”
Rossella Maffioli, Commercial Director of Gottifredi Maffioli, adds: “The ocean has always been our ultimate testing ground for the reliability of our products, and this year’s Vendée sees us involved with the class through our French distributor. This collaboration stands as a testament to the trust the French ocean racing community places in the work we have accomplished together over the years. The outcomes of these advancements are subsequently reflected in the products for leisure boats that we distribute worldwide.”
Gottifredi Maffioli has been a prominent player in the Vendée Globe for many years, as well as in other major ocean racing classes: from being the official suppliers for two editions of the Volvo Ocean Race, to holding the Jules Verne Trophy record on six occasions, and achieving victories in renowned Atlantic races such as the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum.
