The start of The Ocean Race, crewed round the world in an Imoca, will be given on January 15 from Alicante in Spain. Five boats, all based in southern Brittany, will be at the start of this famous race which will last almost six months in seven stages. The skippers are all big names on the circuit, and many of their teammates too. Here are their names and pedigree.

The Ocean Race, the crewed round the world now on Imoca (ex-Volvo Ocean Race) will leave from Alicante on January 15. The first leg will link the Spanish port to the Cape Verde archipelago (1,900 miles). Six other legs will follow, for a total distance well over a Vendée Globe (21,500 theoretical miles). The final arrival is scheduled for the end of June in Genoa, Italy. Five crews headed by skippers who will all line up for the 2024 Vendée Globe, are taking part in the event. Here is their composition.Guyot Environment Team Europe: Benjamin Dutreux The Vendéen Benjamin Dutreux, 9th in the last Vendée Globe, and 8th in the Route du Rhum 2022, will be the skipper of his own boat, Guyot Environnement , which is none other than Alex Thomson's ex-Hugo Boss in 2015. Acquired to the 11th Hour team, this VPLP-Verdier plan is now equipped with large foils which allow it to remain very efficient.The German navigator Robert Stanjek will be the co-skipper since he is taking part of the budget and the crew. At 41, the man who comes from Olympic sailing (6th in the London Olympics in Star), nevertheless has experience in offshore racing for having been part of the crew of Team Brunel in the Volvo Ocean race 2014/2015.