On Sunday, 34 sailors from ten countries embarked from Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, for the iconic Vendée Globe, a non-stop solo round-the-world sailing race covering approximately 45,000 kilometers. Among the competitors, Swiss sailors Justine Mettraux and Alan Roura aim for a top-ten finish, while Oliver Heer makes his debut as the first sailor from German-speaking Switzerland. The race, expected to last three months, poses significant challenges including equipment malfunctions and unpredictable weather. The event also highlights themes of climate change as participants navigate diverse seasonal conditions across the globe.