Supported by the Vendée Globe organizing committee, Myriam Weil (Federation Studios), Eve Pajot-Brémond (Box Fish Productions), and Alexandre Soullier (Bonne Pioche Télévision) joined forces with Philipp Manderla and Charlotte Cheung (Red Bull Studios) to produce Solo at Sea: The Vendée Globe Sailing Race, the definitive documentary series about the world’s most grueling solo sailing race.
On November 10, 2024, sailors set off on the 10th Vendée Globe, embarking on a 45,000-kilometer journey that would change them forever. Their families, teams, friends, and race management remain on land, without them nothing would be possible. As time accelerates, tensions rise, and challenges multiply. For over seventy days, alone against the elements and themselves, will these sailors find the inner strength to complete the challenge of a lifetime?
From breakdowns and accidents to triumphs and moments of intense pressure, Solo at Sea: The Vendée Globe Sailing immerses viewers in the most intense modern human and sporting adventure, where frustration and joy collide between land and sea.
This technically ambitious, internationally scaled production followed six skippers: Jérémie Beyou, Conrad Colman, Clarisse Crémer, Violette Dorange, Pip Hare, and Thomas Ruyant through this extreme circumnavigation. Using a unique system of onboard cameras, director Thomas Sametin captured the daily lives of these ocean adventurers as they sailed 45,000 kilometers alone and unaided.
Alain Lebœuf, President of the Vendée Globe:
“The Vendée Globe is an extraordinary race, a unique challenge that embodies an exceptional human and sporting adventure. Its international reach uplifts an entire region: Vendée. This documentary series marks a new chapter in how we tell the story of this legendary competition. It offers an unprecedented immersion into the lives of the skippers and all those who make this challenge possible. It’s a fresh way to reveal the everyday reality of sailors capable of achieving the extraordinary, and to share the full intensity of this mythic race with the public.”
Antonio Grigolini, Head of Documentaries at France Télévisions:
“This landmark documentary series aligns perfectly with our growing slate of high-quality series across all genres. Beyond pure performance, it captures the very essence of adventure, dreams, and determination, delivering powerful and authentic emotions. Exclusive access to the 2024 Vendée Globe is a true privilege, allowing us to uncover a compelling and little-known story of sporting achievement, human adventure, and self-transcendence. The Vendée Globe is far more than a race; it’s a stage for uniquely human stories.”
Sebastian Burkhardt, Red Bull Studios:
“ Solo at Sea grants privileged, unprecedented access to a world rarely seen by the public. By showcasing one of the most extreme endurance challenges in sports, the series delivers high-stakes action while revealing deeply personal character arcs. We are confident this series will resonate strongly with buyers and audiences worldwide.”
Thomas Sametin, Director:
“Behind the Vendée Globe’s sporting feat lie powerful human adventures. In this series, we take you to the heart of the world’s toughest race. For months, sailors, their loved ones, and race management allowed us to film their most intimate moments from preparation to homecoming. This exceptional access lets us tell the story differently, from the perspective of those who live it. I believe this series will mark a turning point in the history of offshore racing by revealing the profound humanity of these modern adventurers.”
Myriam Weil, Producer:
“ Solo at Sea: The Vendée Globe Sailing is a unique immersion into both the racing boats of these extraordinary adventurers and the lives of their families and race management. We are thrilled to partner with France Télévisions, who will broadcast the series in prime time, and Red Bull Studios, who will bring our event series to the world.”
Eve Pajot-Brémond, Producer:
“For the first time, the Vendée Globe is told through the entire ecosystem of these extreme adventurers. The diversity of these extraordinary sailors, conquering the Everest of the seas, becomes tangible and accessible. Each sailor’s individuality shines through their total commitment, sacrifices, motivations, doubts, and joys collide and fuel this fascinating human and sporting adventure.”
Alexandre Soullier, Producer:
“The word ‘adventure’ has lost much of its original meaning. It once evoked exploration of the unknown, the pursuit of distant horizons, filled with surprises and the unexpected—a word to inspire imagination. Following these women and men across three oceans, alongside their families and race management, allows us, for the first time, to dive into the heart of the Vendée Globe, one of the last great mythic adventures of our time.”
The series received support from Media Creative Europe, CNC, and the Pays de la Loire Region.
International distribution by Red Bull Studios.
