Navigator Violette Dorange tells of her crazy races across the world’s oceans. From the first optimistic outings to her Vendée Globe in 90 days, or more recently to the Vendée Arctic, the young navigator has become a figure of modern navigation, playful and anchored in her time.
This is the story of a 7-year-old girl, Violette, who after trying her hand at tennis, badminton and judo, is enrolled by her parents in a sailing club, like her big brother and sister. For the Dorange family, it is more convenient for the three children to do the same activity. Our little Violette Dorange therefore finds herself a little in spite of herself at the helm of an optimist. And sailing with this small flat-bottomed boat that has the unfortunate tendency to fill up with water does not amuse him at all. She would like to stop, but no way, her parents paid for the license, so she is asked to finish the year. Violette perseveres and eventually takes a liking to sailing and competition.
This activity that put her off became a passion, so much so that 15 years later, in November 2024, Violette Dorange found herself on an 18-meter monocoque from the Vendée Globe. This solo sailing race around the world without a stopover or assistance, is the Grail of offshore runners. At 23 years old, the French navigator is the youngest to have participated, men and women combined. She completed this 45,000-kilometer world tour in 90 days.
What path led her so quickly to that far? How did she experience this mythical race that made her dream so much? Discussion with Violette Dorange who takes us at full speed on her crazy adventures through the oceans of the world.
Go further with Violette Dorange:
- My first Vendée Globe, Carnet de bord, by Violette Dorange in collaboration with Patricia Jolly, published on October 9, 2025 by Éditions Voiles Gallimard
- Alice Babin, Violette Dorange, album illustrated by Julie Ferblantier Amghar, to be published by Gallimard in October 2026
- The live adventure: La Belle-Poule with cartoonist Emmanuel Lepage.The Belle-Poule is a sailboat of the French national navy that participates this summer in the American maritime festivals for the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. Emmanuel Lepage embarked on the sailboat for the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from Funchal to Madeira to Hamilton, in Bermuda.
source : radio france
