The Vendée Globe 2024 race kicked off from Les Sables-d’Olonne on November 10, with Paul Meilhat on Biotherm leading the fleet as of the 7 PM checkpoint. Following closely are Violette Dorange and Olivier Herr, with notable competitors like Charlie Dalin and reigning champion Yannick Bestaven positioned fifth and seventh, respectively. The initial hours saw minimal wind, creating a tightly packed leaderboard with 16 skippers within three nautical miles. Stronger winds are expected to kick in as the fleet approaches the Gulf of Biscay, raising anticipation for the upcoming challenges.