Vendée Globe
Encyclopedia
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...
single-handed
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....
yacht race
Yacht racing
Yacht racing is the sport of competitive yachting.While sailing groups organize the most active and popular competitive yachting, other boating events are also held world-wide: speed motorboat racing; competitive canoeing, kayaking, and rowing; model yachting; and navigational contests Yacht racing...
, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot
Philippe Jeantot
Philippe Jeantot is a French former deep sea diver, who achieved recognition as a sailor for long-distance, single-handed racing and record-setting...
in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years.
As the only single-handed non-stop round-the-world race (in contrast to the VELUX 5 Oceans Race
VELUX 5 Oceans Race
The VELUX 5 OCEANS Race is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed in stages, managed by Clipper Ventures Plc since 2000. Its current name comes from its main sponsor, VELUX, a Danish company. Originally known as the BOC Challenge, for the title sponsor BOC Gases, the first edition was...
, which is sailed in stages), the race is a serious test of individual endurance, and is regarded by many as the ultimate in ocean racing.
History
The race was founded in 1989 by French yachtsman Philippe JeantotPhilippe Jeantot
Philippe Jeantot is a French former deep sea diver, who achieved recognition as a sailor for long-distance, single-handed racing and record-setting...
. Jeantot had competed in the BOC Challenge
VELUX 5 Oceans Race
The VELUX 5 OCEANS Race is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed in stages, managed by Clipper Ventures Plc since 2000. Its current name comes from its main sponsor, VELUX, a Danish company. Originally known as the BOC Challenge, for the title sponsor BOC Gases, the first edition was...
(now the VELUX 5 Oceans Race) in 1982-1983 and 1986–1987, winning both times. Dissatisfied with the race's format, he decided to set up a new round-the-world non-stop race, which he felt would be the ultimate challenge for single-handed
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....
sailors.
The first edition of the race was run in 1989-1990, and was won by Titouan Lamazou; Jeantot himself took part, and placed fourth. The next edition of the race was in 1992-1993; and it has since then been run every four years.
The boats
The race is open to monohull yachts conforming to the Open 60International Monohull Open Classes Association
The International Monohull Open Class Association is an international association within the sport of sailing which administers the monohull class of sailboats...
class criteria. (Prior to 2004, the race was also open to Open 50 boats.) The Open classes are unrestricted in certain aspects, but a box rule governs parameters such as overall length, draught, appendages and stability, as well as numerous other safety features.
The race
The race starts and finishes in Les Sables-d'OlonneLes Sables-d'Olonne
Les Sables-d'Olonne is a seaside town in western France, by the Atlantic Ocean. It is a commune and a sub-prefecture of the Vendée department.-Events:...
, in the Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
département of France
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...
; both Les Sables d’Olonne and the Vendée Conseil Général are official race sponsors. The course is essentially a circumnavigation along the clipper route
Clipper route
In sailing, the clipper route was the traditional route sailed by clipper ships between Europe and the Far East, Australia and New Zealand. The route ran from west to east through the Southern Ocean, in order to make use of the strong westerly winds of the Roaring Forties...
: from Les Sables d’Olonne, down the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to the Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
; then clockwise around Antarctica, keeping Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin is the most south-westerly mainland point of the Australian Continent, in the state of Western Australia.A few small islands and rocks, the St Alouarn Islands, extend further to the south. The nearest settlement, north of the cape, is Augusta. South-east of Cape Leeuwin, the coast...
and Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
to port; then back to Les Sables d’Olonne. The race generally runs from November to February; and is timed to place the competitors in the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
during the austral summer.
Additional waypoints may be set in the sailing instructions for a particular race, in order to ensure safety relative to ice conditions, etc. For example, in 2004, the racers had to pass north of the following flexible waypoints:
- a gate south of South Africa, situated at 44° South, between 005° East and 014° East
- Heard Island
- a gate to the South west of Australia, situated at 47° South, between 103° East and 113° East
- a gate to the south east of Australia, situated at 52° South, between 136° East and 147° East
- a gate in the Pacific Ocean, situated at 55° South, between 160° West and 149° West
- a gate in the Pacific Ocean, situated at 55° South, between 126° West and 115° West
The competitors may stop at anchor, but may not draw alongside a quay or another vessel; they may receive no outside assistance, including customised weather or routing information. The only exception is that a competitor who has an early problem may return to the start for repairs and then re-start the race, as long the re-start is within 10 days of the official start.
The race presents significant challenges; most notably the severe wind and wave conditions in the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
, the long unassisted duration of the race, and the fact that the course takes competitors far from the reach of any normal emergency response. A significant proportion of the entrants usually retire, and in the 1996-1997 race Canadian Gerry Roufs
Gerry Roufs
Gerry Roufs , was a competitive sailor.-Sailing Career:In 1978, Jerry Roufs, along with crew Charles Robitaille placed second at the 470 class World Championships held in Marstrand, Sweden...
was lost at sea.
To mitigate the risks, competitors are required to undergo medical and survival courses. They must also be able to demonstrate prior racing experience; either a completed single-handed trans-oceanic race or the completion of a previous Vendée Globe. The qualifying race must have been completed on the same boat as the one the sailor will race in the Vendée Globe; or the competitor must complete an additional trans-oceanic observation passage, of not less than 2500 miles (4,023.4 km), at an average speed of at least 7 knots (13 km/h), with his new boat . Since trans-ocean races typically have significant qualifying criteria of their own, any entrant to the Vendée Globe will have amassed substantial sailing experience.
1989-1990
The inaugural edition of the race was led from early on by the eventual winner, Titouan Lamazou, on Ecureuil d'Aquitaine II. Philippe JeantotPhilippe Jeantot
Philippe Jeantot is a French former deep sea diver, who achieved recognition as a sailor for long-distance, single-handed racing and record-setting...
, the race's founder, had problems with breakdowns, and then unfavourable winds, which held him back from the race lead. Philippe Poupon's ketch
Ketch
A ketch is a sailing craft with two masts: a main mast, and a shorter mizzen mast abaft of the main mast, but forward of the rudder post. Both masts are rigged mainly fore-and-aft. From one to three jibs may be carried forward of the main mast when going to windward...
Fleury Michon X capsized in the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
; and Poupon was rescued by Loïck Peyron
Loïck Peyron
Loïck Peyron, born 1 December 1959 in Nantes, is a French yachtsman, younger brother of the yachtsman Bruno Peyron.He is particularly famous for winning many races in the 1990s on board his trimaran Fujicolor...
, who finally finished second, in what was generally a successful first run of the race.
| Sailor | Yacht | Time |
|---|---|---|
 Titouan Lamazou |
Ecureuil d'Aquitaine II | 109 d 08 h 48'50 |
| Loïck Peyron Loïck Peyron Loïck Peyron, born 1 December 1959 in Nantes, is a French yachtsman, younger brother of the yachtsman Bruno Peyron.He is particularly famous for winning many races in the 1990s on board his trimaran Fujicolor... |
Lada Poch | 110 d 01 h 18'06 |
| Jean-Luc Van den Heede |
36.15 MET | 112 d 01 h 14'00 |
| Philippe Jeantot Philippe Jeantot Philippe Jeantot is a French former deep sea diver, who achieved recognition as a sailor for long-distance, single-handed racing and record-setting... |
Crédit Agricole IV | 113 d 23 h 47'47 |
| Pierre Follenfant |
TBS-Charente Maritime | 114 d 21 h 09'06 |
| Alain Gautier |
Generali Concorde | 132 d 13 h 01'48 |
| Jean-François Coste |
Cacharel | 163 d 01 h 19'20 |
| Did not finish | ||
| Patrice Carpentier |
Le Nouvel Observateur | damaged auto-pilot (Falklands) |
 Mike Plant |
Duracell | received help (New Zealand) |
 Bertie Reed |
Grinaker | damaged rudder |
| Jean-Yves Terlain |
UAP | dismasted |
| Philippe Poupon |
Fleury Michon X | capsized |
| Guy Bernardin |
O-Kay | toothache |
1992-1993
The second edition of the race attracted a great deal of media coverage; with several participants from the first race, and some promising newcomers, it was set to be an exciting event. Sadly, American Mike Plant, one of the entrants in the first Vendée race, failed to make the start. He was lost at sea on the way to the race, and his boat was found capsized near the AzoresAzores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
.
The race set off into extremely bad weather in the Bay of Biscay
Bay of Biscay
The Bay of Biscay is a gulf of the northeast Atlantic Ocean located south of the Celtic Sea. It lies along the western coast of France from Brest south to the Spanish border, and the northern coast of Spain west to Cape Ortegal, and is named in English after the province of Biscay, in the Spanish...
, and several racers returned to the start to make repairs before setting off again (the only stopover allowed by the rules). Four days after the start, British sailor Nigel Burgess
Nigel Burgess
Nigel Allan Burgess was a British single-handed yachtsman, Master Mariner and businessman. He took part in the OSTAR and the Vendée Globe...
was found drowned off Cape Finisterre
Cape Finisterre
right|thumb|300px|Position of Cape Finisterre on the [[Iberian Peninsula]]Cape Finisterre is a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain....
, having presumably fallen overboard. Alain Gautier and Bertrand de Broc led the race down the Atlantic; however, keel problems forced de Broc to abandon in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Gautier continued with Philippe Poupon close behind, but a dismasting close to the finish held Poupon back and Jean-Luc van den Heede took the second place.
| Sailor | Yacht | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Alain Gautier |
Bagages Superior | 110 d 02 h 22'35 |
| Jean-Luc van den Heede |
Groupe Sofap-Helvim | 116 d 15 h 01'11 |
| Philippe Poupon |
Fleury-Michon X | 117 d 03 h 34'24 |
| Yves Parlier Yves Parlier Yves Parlier is a French sailor. He is very well known in the offshore sailing world and generally in France, where he was France's top sports personality in 2002.... |
Cacolac d'Aquitaine | 125 d 02 h 42'24 |
 Nándor Fa |
K&H Banque Matav | 128 d 16 h 05'04 |
 José Luis de Ugarte |
Euskadi Europ 93 BBK | 134 d 05 h 04'00 |
| Jean-Yves Hasselin |
PRB / Solo Nantes | 153 d 05 h 14'00 |
| Did not finish | ||
 Bernard GallayBernard Gallay Bernard Gallay is a Franco-Swiss yachtsman and businessman.He has especially competed in the Vendée Globe twice and finished his career as a professional sailor whilst participating in the Transat 6.50 in 2005.... |
Vuarnet Watches | rigging problems |
 Vittorio Malingri |
Everlast / Neil Pryde Sails | lost rudder |
| Bertrand de Broc |
Groupe LG | keel problems |
 Alan Wynne-Thomas |
Cardiff Discovery | medical reasons |
| Loïck Peyron Loïck Peyron Loïck Peyron, born 1 December 1959 in Nantes, is a French yachtsman, younger brother of the yachtsman Bruno Peyron.He is particularly famous for winning many races in the 1990s on board his trimaran Fujicolor... |
Fujicolor III | sail failure |
| Thierry Arnaud |
Maître Coq / Le Monde | unprepared |
| Nigel Burgess Nigel Burgess Nigel Allan Burgess was a British single-handed yachtsman, Master Mariner and businessman. He took part in the OSTAR and the Vendée Globe... |
Nigel Burgess Yachts | lost at sea |
| Mike Plant |
Duracell | lost at sea while relying departure |
1996-1997
Another heavy-weather start in the Bay of Biscay knocked Nandor Fa and Didier Munduteguy out of the race early; and several others once again returned to the start for repairs before continuing. The rest of the fleet raced to the Southern Ocean, where a second attrition began. Yves ParlierYves Parlier
Yves Parlier is a French sailor. He is very well known in the offshore sailing world and generally in France, where he was France's top sports personality in 2002....
as well as Isabelle Autissier
Isabelle Autissier
Isabelle Autissier is a French sailor, navigator, writer, and broadcaster. She is celebrated for being the first woman to have completed a solo world navigation in competition ....
broke their rudders, leaving Christophe Auguin to lead the way into the south.
Heavy weather took a more serious toll on the sailors in the far Southern Ocean. Raphaël Dinelli's boat capsized and he was rescued by Pete Goss
Pete Goss
Pete Goss, MBE is a British yachtsman who has clocked up at sea.A former Royal Marine, he is famous for his pioneering project Team Philips. He received a Legion d'Honneur for saving fellow sailor Raphaël Dinelli in the 1996 Vendée Globe solo around the world yacht race...
; then, within a few hours of each other, two other boats capsized, and their occupants were rescued by Australian rescue teams. Finally, contact was lost with Canadian sailor Gerry Roufs
Gerry Roufs
Gerry Roufs , was a competitive sailor.-Sailing Career:In 1978, Jerry Roufs, along with crew Charles Robitaille placed second at the 470 class World Championships held in Marstrand, Sweden...
. While his body was never found, his boat reappeared five months later off the Chilean Coast.
The race was won by Christophe Auguin; and Catherine Chabaud, sixth and last, was the first woman to finish the race.
Pete Goss was later awarded the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
for his rescue of Dinelli. The capsize of several boats in this race prompted tightening up of the safety rules for entrants, particularly regarding boat safety and stability.
The book Godforsaken Sea: The True Story of a Race Through the World's Most Dangerous Waters by Derek Lundy
Derek Lundy
Derek Lundy is a Canadian author.His first published book was Scott Turow: Meeting the Enemy. He achieved bestseller status with his sophomore work, Godforsaken Sea: Racing the World's Most Dangerous Waters, an account of the harrowing 1996 Vendee Globe round the world single-handed sailing race...
profiles this edition of the race.
| Sailor | Yacht | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Christophe Auguin |
Geodis | 105 d 20 h 31' |
| Marc Thiercelin |
Crédit Immobilier | 113 d 08 h 26' |
| Hervé Laurent |
Groupe LG-Traitmat | 114 d 16 h 43' |
| Eric Dumont Eric Dumont French yachtsman, Eric Dumont participated in the 1996/97 Vendée Globe in the yacht Café Legal-Le Goût.Dumont announced his retirement from the sport in 2003 after a minor collision with another yacht result in Dumont breaking his thigh bone.... |
Café Legal-Le Goût | 116 d 16 h 43' |
| Pete Goss Pete Goss Pete Goss, MBE is a British yachtsman who has clocked up at sea.A former Royal Marine, he is famous for his pioneering project Team Philips. He received a Legion d'Honneur for saving fellow sailor Raphaël Dinelli in the 1996 Vendée Globe solo around the world yacht race... |
Aqua Quorum | 126 d 21 h 25' |
| Catherine Chabaud |
Whirlpool-Europe 2 | 140 d 04 h 38' |
| Did not finish | ||
| Isabelle Autissier Isabelle Autissier Isabelle Autissier is a French sailor, navigator, writer, and broadcaster. She is celebrated for being the first woman to have completed a solo world navigation in competition .... |
PRB | broken rudder |
| Yves Parlier Yves Parlier Yves Parlier is a French sailor. He is very well known in the offshore sailing world and generally in France, where he was France's top sports personality in 2002.... |
Aquitaine Innovations | broken rudder |
| Bertrand de Broc |
Pommes Rhône Alpes | capsized |
| Tony Bullimore Tony Bullimore Tony Bullimore is a British sailor from Bristol.He is most famous for being rescued during the 1996 Vendee Globe single handed around the world race. The race was marked by a number of incidents including the death of another contestant, Gerry Roufs... |
Exide Challenger | capsized |
| Thierry Dubois |
Amnesty International | capsized |
| Nándor Fa |
Budapest | collision |
| Didier Munduteguy |
Club 60è Sud | dismasted |
| Raphaël Dinelli |
Algimouss | capsized |
 Patrick de Radiguès |
Afibel | beached |
 Gerry RoufsGerry Roufs Gerry Roufs , was a competitive sailor.-Sailing Career:In 1978, Jerry Roufs, along with crew Charles Robitaille placed second at the 470 class World Championships held in Marstrand, Sweden... |
Groupe LG2 | lost at sea |
2000-2001
This race was the first major test of the new safety rules, introduced following the tragedy in the previous race. Overall, it was a success; although some boats were again forced to retire from the race, none were lost. This race also featured the youngest entrant ever; Ellen MacArthurEllen MacArthur
Dame Ellen Patricia MacArthur, DBE is an English sailor, up until 2009, from Whatstandwell near Matlock in Derbyshire, now based in West Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. She is best known as a solo long-distance yachtswoman. On 7 February 2005 she broke the world record for the fastest solo...
, who at 24 years old had managed to put together a serious campaign with her custom-built boat Kingfisher.
Yves Parlier
Yves Parlier
Yves Parlier is a French sailor. He is very well known in the offshore sailing world and generally in France, where he was France's top sports personality in 2002....
was the first to establish a lead; however, he was soon under attack by Michel Desjoyeaux
Michel Desjoyeaux
Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux (born 16 July 1965, in Concarneau, is a French sailor, known for competing successfully in several long-distance single-handed races...
, who moved into the lead. Pushing hard to catch up, Parlier dismasted and lost contact with race organisers. MacArthur diverted to give him assistance, but was then told to resume racing when contact with Parlier was restored, and managed to maintain fourth place.
Desjoyeaux extended his lead to 600 miles (965.6 km) by the Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
; however, MacArthur was closing steadily, having moved up to second place. By the mid-Atlantic she had caught up, and while negotiating the calms and variable winds of the Doldrums, the two traded the lead position several times.
MacArthur's chances of a win were ruined when she struck a semi-submerged container
Containerization
Containerization is a system of freight transport based on a range of steel intermodal containers...
and was forced to make repairs. Desjoyeaux won the race; but MacArthur pulled in just over a day later, to a rapturous reception, as the fastest single-handed woman around the planet. Parlier, meanwhile, had anchored off New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and managed to fabricate by himself a new carbon-fibre mast from the remains of his broken mast. He continued racing, and gained an official place.
| Sailor | Yacht | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux (born 16 July 1965, in Concarneau, is a French sailor, known for competing successfully in several long-distance single-handed races... |
PRB | 93 d 3 h 57' |
| Ellen MacArthur Ellen MacArthur Dame Ellen Patricia MacArthur, DBE is an English sailor, up until 2009, from Whatstandwell near Matlock in Derbyshire, now based in West Cowes, on the Isle of Wight. She is best known as a solo long-distance yachtswoman. On 7 February 2005 she broke the world record for the fastest solo... |
Kingfisher | 94 d 4 h 25' |
| Roland Jourdain |
Sill Matines La potagère | 96 d 1 h 2' |
| Marc Thiercelin |
Active Wear | 102 d 20 h 37' |
| Dominic Wavre |
Union bancaire Privée | 105 d 2 h 45' |
| Thomas Coville |
Sodébo | 105 d 7 h 24' |
| Mike Golding Mike Golding Mike Golding is an English yachtsman. He is one of the few yachtsmen to have raced round the world non stop in both directions... |
Team Group 4 | 110 d 16 h 22' |
| Bernard Gallay Bernard Gallay Bernard Gallay is a Franco-Swiss yachtsman and businessman.He has especially competed in the Vendée Globe twice and finished his career as a professional sailor whilst participating in the Transat 6.50 in 2005.... |
Voilà.fr | 111 d 16 h 7' |
| Josh Hall (yachtsman) Josh Hall (yachtsman) Josh Hall was a British yachstman.-External links:*... |
Gartmore | 111 d 19 h 48' |
| Joé Seeten |
Chocolats du Monde | 115 d 16 h 46' |
| Patrice Carpentier |
VM Matériaux | 116 d 00 h 32' |
| Simone Bianchetti |
Aquarelle.com | 121 d 1 h 28' |
| Yves Parlier Yves Parlier Yves Parlier is a French sailor. He is very well known in the offshore sailing world and generally in France, where he was France's top sports personality in 2002.... |
Aquitaine Innovations | 126 d 23 h 36 |
| Didier Munduteguy |
DDP / 60e Sud | 135 d 15 h 17' |
| Pasquale de Gregorio |
Wind Telecommunicazioni | 158 d 2 h 37' |
| Did not finish | ||
| Catherine Chabaud |
Whirlpool | dismasted |
| Thierry Dubois |
Solidaires | electronic problems |
| Raphaël Dinelli |
Sogal Extenso | damaged rudder |
 Fedor Konioukhov |
Modern Univ./Humanities | retired |
| Javier Sanso |
Old Spice | retired |
| Eric Dumont Eric Dumont French yachtsman, Eric Dumont participated in the 1996/97 Vendée Globe in the yacht Café Legal-Le Goût.Dumont announced his retirement from the sport in 2003 after a minor collision with another yacht result in Dumont breaking his thigh bone.... |
Euroka Services | damaged rudder |
| Richard Tolkien |
This Time - Argos - Help For Autistic Children | rig damage |
| Bernard Stamm |
Armor-Lux/foies Gras | steering problem |
| Patrick de Radiguès |
Libre Belgique | beached |
2004-2005
300,000 people watched the start of the 2004 race, which for once took place in mild weather. A fast start was followed by a few minor equipment problems; still, the first racers crossed the equatorEquator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
after just 10 days, 3 days faster than the previous race, and all of the starters were still sailing.
Attrition began on entry into the roaring forties
Roaring Forties
The Roaring Forties is the name given to strong westerly winds found in the Southern Hemisphere, generally between the latitudes of 40 and 49 degrees. Air displaced from the Equator towards the South Pole, which travels close to the surface between the latitudes of 30 and 60 degrees south, combines...
: Alex Thomson
Alex Thomson (sailor)
Alex Thomson is a British yachter.Alex Thomson was helped early in his sailing career by Sir Keith Mills, the British businessman who ran London's victorious bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and set up with British America’s Cup campaign TEAMORIGIN...
diverted to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
to make unassisted repairs and continue racing, and a number of other problems hit the fleet. Hervé Laurent retired with serious rudder problems, Thomson abandoned, and Conrad Humphreys
Conrad Humphreys
Conrad David Humphreys was born in Exmouth, Devon on the 13th February 1973. He is a professional sailor and has competed in three round the world races. On the 20th of February 2005, he became only the 5th British sailor to complete the Vendée Globe...
anchored to make unassisted rudder repairs. Gear problems and abandons continued; then the fleet ran into an area of ice, with Sébastien Josse hitting a berg head-on.
As the fleet re-entered the Atlantic, the lead changed several times; the race remained close right to the finish, which saw three boats finish within 29 hours.
| Sailor | Yacht | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Vincent Riou Vincent Riou Vincent Riou is a French sailor. He is the skipper of PRB, a 60-foot monohull. He won the 2004 edition of the Vendée Globe.-Recent events:... |
PRB | 87 d 10 h 47'55 |
| Jean Le Cam Jean Le Cam Jean Le Cam is a French sailor.Le Cam was crewman with Éric Tabarly and Michel Desjoyeaux, and won the Solitaire du Figaro in 1994, 1996 and 1999. He later took interest in multihull ships.... |
Bonduelle | 87 d 17 h 20'8 |
| Mike Golding Mike Golding Mike Golding is an English yachtsman. He is one of the few yachtsmen to have raced round the world non stop in both directions... |
Ecover | 88 d 15 h 15'13 |
| Dominique Wavre |
Temenos | 92 d 17 h 13'20 |
| Sébastien Josse |
VMI | 93 d0 h 2'10 |
| Jean-Pierre Dick |
Virbac-Paprec | 98 d3 h 49'38 |
| Conrad Humphreys Conrad Humphreys Conrad David Humphreys was born in Exmouth, Devon on the 13th February 1973. He is a professional sailor and has competed in three round the world races. On the 20th of February 2005, he became only the 5th British sailor to complete the Vendée Globe... |
Hellomoto | 104 d 14 h 32'24 |
| Joé Seeten |
Arcelor Dunkerque | 104 d 23 h 2'45 |
| Bruce Schwab Bruce Schwab Bruce Schwab is an American sailor and ocean racer. He circumnavigated the globe twice on his Open 60 racing yacht OceanPlanet becoming the 240th and then the 254th solo sailor to do so... |
Ocean Planet | 109 d 19 h 58'57 |
| Benoît Parnaudeau |
Max Havelaar / Best Western | 116 d 1 h 6'54 |
| Anne Liardet |
ROXY | 119 d 5 h 28'40 |
| Raphaël Dinelli |
AKENA Vérandas | 125 d 4 h 7'14 |
| Karen Leibovici |
Benefic | 126 d 8 h 2'20 |
| Did not finish | ||
| Marc Thiercelin |
Pro-Form | technical problems |
| Roland Jourdain |
Sill Véolia | keel problems |
| Alex Thomson Alex Thomson (sailor) Alex Thomson is a British yachter.Alex Thomson was helped early in his sailing career by Sir Keith Mills, the British businessman who ran London's victorious bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and set up with British America’s Cup campaign TEAMORIGIN... |
Hugo Boss | hole in the deck |
| Patrice Carpentier |
VM Matériaux | broken boom |
 Nick Moloney |
Skandia | lost the keel |
| Hervé Laurent |
UUDS | rudder problem |
 Norbert Sedlacek |
Brother | keel problems |
2008-2009
The 2008 edition of the Vendée Globe began on November 9, 2008 and was won by Michel Desjoyaux.| Sailor | Yacht | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux Michel Desjoyeaux (born 16 July 1965, in Concarneau, is a French sailor, known for competing successfully in several long-distance single-handed races... |
Foncia | 84 d 3 h 9'8" |
| Armel Le Cléac’h |
Brit Air | 89 d 9 h 39'35" |
| Marc Guillemot |
Safran | 95 d 3 h 19'36" |
| Samantha Davies Samantha Davies Samantha Davies is a British yachtswoman. She has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from St John's College, Cambridge.-Biography:... |
Roxy | 95 d 4 h 39'1" |
| Brian Thompson Brian Thompson Brian Thompson is an American actor.Brian Thompson may also refer to:*Brian Thompson , reporter and anchorman for WNBC-TV*Brian Thomson , senior correspondent for SBS World News *Brian B. Thompson, British writer... |
Bahrain Team Pindar | 98 d 20 h 29'55" |
| Dee Caffari Dee Caffari Denise "Dee" Caffari MBE is a British sailor, and in 2006 became the first woman to sail single-handedly and non-stop around the world "the wrong way"; westward against the prevailing winds and currents... |
Aviva | 99 d 1 h 10'57" |
| Arnaud Boissières |
Akena Verandas | 105 d 2 h 33'50" |
| Steve White Steve White Steve White is an English drummer who has worked extensively with Paul Weller, The Style Council and other British musicians.-Musical career:... |
Toe In The Water | 109 d 00 h 36'55" |
| Rich Wilson Rich Wilson (sailor) Rich Wilson is only the second American to ever finish the Vendee Globe ocean race, it took him 121 days, and over 28,790 miles.... |
Great American III | 121 d 00 h 41'19" |
| Raphaël Dinelli |
Fondation Ocean Vital | 125 d 2 h 32'24" |
| Norbert Sedlacek |
Nauticsport-Kapsch | 126 d 5 h 31'56" |
| Did not finish | ||
| Vincent Riou Vincent Riou Vincent Riou is a French sailor. He is the skipper of PRB, a 60-foot monohull. He won the 2004 edition of the Vendée Globe.-Recent events:... |
PRB | day 59: dismasted. Redress Given: 3rd place |
| Roland Jourdain |
Veolia Environnement | day 85: lost keel |
| Jean Le Cam Jean Le Cam Jean Le Cam is a French sailor.Le Cam was crewman with Éric Tabarly and Michel Desjoyeaux, and won the Solitaire du Figaro in 1994, 1996 and 1999. He later took interest in multihull ships.... |
VM Matériaux | day 58: lost keel bulb, capsized |
| Jonny Malbon |
Artemis | day 56: delaminated mainsail |
| Jean-Pierre Dick |
Paprec-Virbac 2 | day 53: lost port rudder |
| Derek Hatfield |
Algimouss Spirit of Canada | day 50: broken spreaders |
| Sébastien Josse |
BT | day 50: broken rudder system |
| Yann Eliès |
Generali | day 40: fractured femur |
| Mike Golding Mike Golding Mike Golding is an English yachtsman. He is one of the few yachtsmen to have raced round the world non stop in both directions... |
Ecover 3 | day 38: dismasted |
| Jean-Baptiste Dejeanty |
Groupe Maisonneuve | day 37: faulty halyards, broken auto-pilot |
| Loïck Peyron Loïck Peyron Loïck Peyron, born 1 December 1959 in Nantes, is a French yachtsman, younger brother of the yachtsman Bruno Peyron.He is particularly famous for winning many races in the 1990s on board his trimaran Fujicolor... |
Gitana Eighty | day 36: dismasted |
| Bernard Stamm |
Cheminées Poujoulat | day 36: ran aground |
| Dominique Wavre |
Temenos | day 35: damaged keel box |
| Unai Basurko |
Pakea Bizkaia | day 28: faulty starboard rudder box |
| Jérémie Beyou |
Delta Dore | day 17: damaged rig |
| Alex Thomson Alex Thomson (sailor) Alex Thomson is a British yachter.Alex Thomson was helped early in his sailing career by Sir Keith Mills, the British businessman who ran London's victorious bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and set up with British America’s Cup campaign TEAMORIGIN... |
Hugo Boss | day 6: cracked hull |
| Yannick Bestaven |
Energies Autour du Monde | day 4: dismasted |
| Marc Thiercelin |
DCNS | day 4: dismasted |
| Kito de Pavant |
Groupe Bel | day 4: dismasted |
See also
- VELUX 5 Oceans RaceVELUX 5 Oceans RaceThe VELUX 5 OCEANS Race is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed in stages, managed by Clipper Ventures Plc since 2000. Its current name comes from its main sponsor, VELUX, a Danish company. Originally known as the BOC Challenge, for the title sponsor BOC Gases, the first edition was...
- 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...
- Volvo Ocean RaceVolvo Ocean RaceThe Volvo Ocean Race is a yacht race around the world, held every three years. It is named after its current owner, Volvo...
- Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
- Global ChallengeGlobal ChallengeThe Global Challenge was a round the world yacht race run by Challenge Business, the company started by Sir Chay Blyth in 1989...