July 03, 2020
Bulletin interne de l'Institut Pasteur
Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne: publisher Gallimard and the Institut Pasteur embark on a creative adventure
Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables-d'Olonne is a 12-day ocean race created by the IMOCA Class and the company Sea to See to replace two competitions that had to be canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an official race in the IMOCA Globe Series championship and will give skippers the opportunity to qualify for the Vendée Globe. On July 4 at 3.30pm, in Les Sables d'Olonne, 21 skippers eager to set sail again will take to the starting line of the Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne solo unassisted non-stop race on 60-foot monohulls. The new route [apposer la carte du DP, page 4], in theory 3,566 nautical miles (6,600km) long, will take the sailors south of Iceland and north-east of the Azores. The finish will be in Les Sables-d'Olonne. The race will give skippers the opportunity to qualify for the Vendée Globe 2020-2021, which will start on November 8..
As well as the sporting challenge, which had to be reimagined in light of the unprecedented health context, the race will also bring together sailors, authors for Éditions Gallimard – including Erik Orsenna – and Institut Pasteur scientists for a unique writing project. Texts produced by the sailors and authors will be compiled in an illustrated collection published by Éditions Gallimard in autumn 2020, just before the Vendée Globe. The book will be entitled "Prélude littéraire au Vendée Globe. Regards d'écrivains et de marins" (A Literary Prelude to the Vendée Globe, Through the Eyes of Writers and Sailors).
Nineteen sailors and twelve authors from Éditions Gallimard have all agreed to write a text. Their work will be unveiled on a dedicated platform during the race, each day at 5pm, together with the video vignettes produced by eleven Institut Pasteur scientists whose work the race organizers wanted to showcase.
Ten scientists and the Institut Pasteur's Scientific Director Christophe d'Enfert agreed to be filmed as scientific ambassadors for this unique race.
The aim of this unusual, fascinating project is to raise awareness among the public of the Institut Pasteur's work, both on a daily basis and in times of crisis like the situation we are currently experiencing. The idea is also to highlight the need for public donations – each time the race map is viewed, sailing fans will be invited to make a donation to the Institut Pasteur. On the start and finish lines, the boats will feature the Institut Pasteur logo. Throughout the race, the work of the Institut Pasteur's scientists will be showcased in video vignettes broadcast on the race site.
Renowned author and keen sailor Erik Orsenna, Ambassador of the Institut Pasteur and the Institut Pasteur International Network, is the patron of this collaborative project. As the current occupant of the Pasteur seat at the Académie française, Erik Orsenna perfectly bridges the literary, scientific and maritime communities. He has invested a huge amount of time and energy to make this unique project possible.
Don't miss the start of the race, broadcast live at 3.30pm on Saturday July 4 on several France 3 regional TV channels: France Ô, France 3 Pays de la Loire, France 3 Bretagne, France 3 Normandie, France 3 Poitou Charentes, France 3 Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur et les chaînes 1ères.
Read the press kitGo to the IMOCA website to find out more about the race and check out the latest video vignette and text each day