Jean Luc Van Den Heede
Encyclopedia
Jean Luc Van Den Heede is a French
sailor. He is best known for his achievements in single-handed sailing
and set the current world-record for the westabout circumnavigation
(he holds the overall record, i.e. although he sailed solo, nobody was faster on this route with a crewed boat).
He started sailing at the age of 17. In the Breton
port city of Lorient
he worked as a mathematics
teacher
. After 1989 he became a full-time sailor. Among sailors, he is also known by his initials VDH.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
sailor. He is best known for his achievements in single-handed sailing
Single-handed sailing
The sport of single-handed sailing or solo sailing is sailing with only one crewmember . The term is usually used with reference to ocean and long-distance sailing, and particularly competitive sailing....
and set the current world-record for the westabout circumnavigation
Around the world sailing record
The first around the world sailing record was, logically, set by the first person who circumnavigated the world: Juan Sebastián Elcano and the remaining members of Ferdinand Magellan's crew who completed their journey in 1522. The first solo record was set by Joshua Slocum in the Spray .Most races...
(he holds the overall record, i.e. although he sailed solo, nobody was faster on this route with a crewed boat).
He started sailing at the age of 17. In the Breton
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
port city of Lorient
Lorient
Lorient, or L'Orient, is a commune and a seaport in the Morbihan department in Brittany in north-western France.-History:At the beginning of the 17th century, merchants who were trading with India had established warehouses in Port-Louis...
he worked as a mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
. After 1989 he became a full-time sailor. Among sailors, he is also known by his initials VDH.
Achievements
- 1977 : 2nd of the Mini Transat
- 1979 : 2nd of the Mini Transat
- 1986 : 2nd of the BOC Challenge on Let's Go
- 1990 : 3rd of the Vendée GlobeVendée GlobeThe Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years....
on 3615 MET - 1993 : 2nd of the Vendée GlobeVendée GlobeThe Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years....
on Sofap Helvim - 1993 : 4th of the Transat Jacques VabreTransat Jacques VabreThe Transat Jacques Vabre is a yachting race that follows the historic coffee trading route between France and Brazil.The course was drawn up back in 1993 to follow in the wake of the clippers transporting coffee from Brazil to France. The Transat Jacques Vabre is a major date on the calendar,...
- 1995 : 3rd of the BOC Challenge on Vendée Entreprises
- 1998 : 2nd of the Route du RhumRoute du RhumThe Route du Rhum is a transatlantic single-handed yacht race, which takes places every 4 years in November. The course is between Saint Malo, Brittany, France and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, France...
on Algimouss - 2002 : Record crossing of the Channel aboard Adrien with Karen Leibovici
- 2004 : Record westabout circumnavigationAround the world sailing recordThe first around the world sailing record was, logically, set by the first person who circumnavigated the world: Juan Sebastián Elcano and the remaining members of Ferdinand Magellan's crew who completed their journey in 1522. The first solo record was set by Joshua Slocum in the Spray .Most races...
in 122d 14h 3min 49s.