With the advent of modern technology, the little known world of single-handed, around the world yacht racing has been brought to life for millions.

First radio, then still photos, then live video images direct from the boats via satellite have popularized this sport in just a few years. Skippers are now interviewed 'live' on television all over the world from mid-ocean during the race.

Competitors and their sponsors have discovered that it is not necessary to be in the lead to become a media celebrity these days; the 'good communicators' have become the most popular.

Ocean racing today competes easily for media coverage with the most popular international sports: football, Formula One, soccer, cycling.

	300,000 people visited the Vendee Globe pontoons at Sables d'Olonne between the 14th of October and the 8th of November
	60,000 people were present at the arrival of Michel Desjoyeaux and also for that of Ellen MacArthur the next day
	Between 10,000 and 30,000 people were at each of the other arrivals
	40,000 people were at the awards ceremony
	800 newspapers and magazines (France & Internationally) and about 40 television networks and French radio stations
	70 million people in France and abroad were affected by the Vendee Globe
	500 Journalists were accredited at Sables d'Olonne
	The Vendee Globe is comfortable in its status of international sports events. It is 2nd only in sailing events to the Americas Cup
	In France and Europe, the Vendee Globe, based its media coverage and the audience it touches, is at the top of premier sports events (Tour de France cycle race, Olympic Games, World Cup, Formula One Grand Prix)

INTERNET

The genuine explosion of interest in the race was most obviously seen on the official race web site, www.vendeeglobe.com, which received more than 90 million hits, averaging more than 15 million per month! Ellen MacArthur was the subject of over 20,000 articles on 1500 web sites internationally, which received more than 100 million hits!


INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION

Collection, analysis and distribution of race news and information by the Vendee Globe organizers is provided free to all major media: written press, radio, television, without partnership or exclusivity; consequently, coverage by all major media plus the internet has exploded.


TELEVISION
CLICK HERE FOR FULL REPORT ON TV COVERAGE.

RADIO
CLICK HERE FOR FULL REPORT ON RADIO COVERAGE.


PRESS
CLICK HERE FOR FULL REPORT ON PRESS COVERAGE.