© © Anne Beaugé / Retour à La Base

For a variety of different reasons eight skippers will be missing from the start of the Retour à La Base solo race from Martinique to Lorient on Thursday

- Nicolas Troussel - Corum l'Epargne : no participation after his sponsors stood down after dismasting on the Défi Azimut.

- James Harayda - Gentoo Sailing Team : the British skipper of Gentoo Sailing Team has had to withdraw from all races at the end of this 2023 season after needing to make repairs to his boat

- Charlie Dalin - Macif: for medical reasons, the skipper of Macif Santé Prévoyance crossed the starting line of the Transat Jacques Vabre but withdrew after his team also announced he would not compete on the Rétour à La Base

- Eric Bellion - STAND AS ONE: Victim of structural damage to his IMOCA Stand As One the day after the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre. He had just launched his new daggerboard boat in June and as had to return the boat to the yard for structural work 

- Yannick Bestaven - Maître CoQ: the last winner of the Vendée Globe was forced to abandon the Transat Jacques Vabre following structural problems which forced him to stop in La Coruña. The IMOCA Maître Coq is back in La Rochelle for repairs.

- Oliver Heer - Oliver Heer Sailing Team: The Swiss skipper had damage to the forestay anchoring point on the Transat Jacques Vabre and had to return to the yard for repairs. 

- Phil Sharp - OceansLab: With his IMOCA Oceanslab launched a little later than initially hoped, the Briton tried everything to reach Fort-de-France on time. But 100 miles into his delivery the bowsprit of his new boat broke off. He has returned to France with the boat and is making plans for 2024 and beyond. 

- Giancarlo Pedote - Prysmian Group: Still suffering from hyperthermia contracted during the Transat Jacques Vabre. The  Italian sailor, in consultation with the race doctors, has made the decision to abandon the last race of the season. The return of the IMOCA Prysmian Group to Brittany will be completed by the technical team this week.