After an anonymous email, an internal investigation suspected fraud during the last edition

Storm warning for Vendee Globe? An investigation into suspected cheating during the last edition of the race (2020-2021) has been launched, French Sailing Federation President Jean-Luc Denechau confirmed on Tuesday.

“We received an anonymous email on Sunday that contains elements that, if proven, could raise suspicions of rooting in the last Vendée Globe,” explained Jean-Luc Denechau.

The identity of the skipper concerned has not been released

According to Article 4.3.2, the exchange of messages allowing “personal weather assistance” and “routing” is prohibited by Vendée Globe regulations. The “elements” received by the federation are “essentially screenshots”, mentioned its president, who did not want to give any indication on the identity of the captain in question.

The federation “asked the race committee to appoint a jury that would be responsible for analyzing the truth and content of the elements in question. I have full confidence in the relevant sporting authority and I await the conclusion of its investigation,” said Vendée Globe president Alain Leboeuf.

The next edition of the Vendée Globe, a solo monohull round-the-world sailing race, will depart from Les Sables d’Olonne in Vendée on November 10, 2024.