DMG MORI SAILING TEAM to compete in the Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne, the preliminary of the Vendée Globe

DMG MORI CO., LTD (hereinafter referred to as “DMG MORI”) welcomed Mr. Kojiro Shiraishi as a skipper and launched DMG MORI SAILING TEAM (hereinafter referred to as “the team”) in October 2018, and now the team will set out to an ocean yacht race, the Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne, on July 4^th.

DMG MORI Global One with Mr. Shiraishi

The team is based in Lorient, France, getting ready for the solo, non-stop, round-the-world race without assistance, “Vendée Globe 2020,” scheduled from November 8^th, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 related cancellation of the two Atlantic regattas Transat CIC (May 10^th-)” and “Transat NY-Vendée (June 16^th-)”, the Organizer created a new variant as a qualification for the Vendée Globe – the Vendée-Arctic-Les Sables d’Olonne –to replace the two trans-Atlantic races. This solo race will be taking the sailors up past Iceland and into the Arctic Circle and then down to the Azores with a return to the start location planned around ten to twelve days later. In preparation for the upcoming race Kojiro Shiraishi started his solo training on June 9^th, and successfully returned to Lorient on June 16^th after covered 2,100 nautical miles on their own. The solo training extended from Lorient to the northern point of the Azores Islands – and back.

The team and the new yacht DMG MORI Global One aim to finish the course of the preliminary race, as it is a prerequisite to be qualified for the Vendée Globe 2020 (the ranking does not matter).

It is the first yacht race for the team, and our beloved DMG MORI Global One will make the first appearance to the world there. I would like to thank our supportive and loyal sponsors and fans for this opportunity, as well as the crews who meticulously maintained the yacht while taking preventive measures against COVID-19, we will finish the course and win a ticket to the Vendée Globe. I hope we can bring you good news soon.

Kojiro Shiraishi, skipper of DMG MORI SAILING TEAM

Race outline

Name:
Vendée-Arctic-Les Sables d’Olonne

Schedule:
Start at 15:30, July 4^th (Sat.) (estimated duration: 10-14 days)

Course:
Les Sables d’Olonne (France) - The coast of Iceland - The Azores (autonomous region of Portugal) - Les Sables d’Olonne (France). Total: 3,600 miles (approx. 6,500 km)
*The course may change due to weather conditions.

Number of contestants:
22 (to be determined)

Offical website:
https://www.imoca.org/en/races/imoca-globe-series/vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne

The course of Vendée-Arctic-Les Sables d’Olonne

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