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The Vendée Globe is a single-handed (solo) non-stop, unassisted round the world yacht race.[1][2] The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989,[3] and since 1992 has taken place every four years. It is named after the Département of Vendée, in France, where the race starts and ends. The Vendée Globe is considered an extreme quest of individual endurance and the ultimate test in ocean racing.[4][5]
First held | 1989 |
---|---|
Type | single-handed non-stop round-the-world race |
Classes | IMOCA 60 |
Start | Les Sables-d'Olonne |
Finish | Les Sables-d'Olonne |
Length | 24,000 nmi (44,000 km) |
Champions | Maître Coq IV Yannick Bestaven |
Most titles | Michel Desjoyeaux (2) |
Website | www |
The race
editHistory
editThe race was founded as "The Globe Challenge" in 1989 by French yachtsman Philippe Jeantot.[6] Jeantot had competed in the BOC Challenge in 1982–83 and 1986–87, winning the 60-foot class ("Class I") both times. The BOC Challenge was sailed in stages with sailors being given the chance to rest and repair their boats at ports around the world.[6]Unsatisfied 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 sailors.[7]
The first race was run in 1989–90, and was won by Titouan Lamazou; Jeantot himself took part, and placed fourth.[8] The next race was in 1992–93; and it has since then been run every four years. The inaugural race included 11 Frenchmen, one South African (Bertie Reed) and one American (Mike Plant).[9]
Yachts
editThe race is open to monohull yachts conforming to the Open 60 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 presents significant challenges; most notable are the severe wind and wave conditions in the Southern Ocean, 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 1996–97 race Canadian Gerry Roufs was lost at sea.[10]
Course
editThe race starts and finishes in Les Sables-d'Olonne, in the Département of Vendée, in France; both Les Sables d’Olonne and the Vendée Conseil Général are official race sponsors.[11] The course is essentially a circumnavigation along the clipper route: from Les Sables d’Olonne, down the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope; then clockwise around Antarctica, keeping Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn to port; then back to Les Sables d’Olonne.[12] The race generally covers approximately 24,000 nautical miles (44,000 km) and runs from November to February, timed to place the competitors in the Southern Ocean during the austral summer.[13]
Additional waypoints may be set in the sailing instructions for a particular race, in order to ensure safety relative to ice conditions, weather, etc.[14] There is also an exclusion zone set around Antarctica where competitors are prohibited to sail due to risk of ice-bergs. [15]
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 restart the race, as long as the restart is within 10 days of the official start.
Qualification
editTo 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 2,500 miles (4,000 km), at an average speed of at least 7 knots (13 km/h), with his or her boat.
Race Editions
edit1st Edition: 1989–1990
edit2nd Edition: 1992–1993
edit3rd Edition: 1996–1997
edit4th Edition: 2000–2001
edit5th Edition: 2004–2005
edit6th Edition: 2008–2009
edit7th Edition: 2012–2013
edit8th Edition: 2016–2017
edit9th Edition: 2020–2021
edit10th Edition: 2024–2025
editResults
editOverall winners
editOverall winners' times
editEd | Year | Skipper | Boat Name | 24hr Run | Equator | Cape of Good Hope | Leeuwin | Cape Horn | Equator | Finish Line |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1989–1990 | Titouan Lamazou (FRA) | Écureuil d'Aquitaine II | 304 nm | 109d 08h 48m | |||||
2 | 1992–1993 | Alain Gautier (FRA) | Bagages Superior | 339 nm | 110d 02h 22m | |||||
3 | 1996–1997 | Christophe Auguin (FRA) | Geodis | 105d 20h 31m | ||||||
4 | 2000–2001 | Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) | PRB 2 | 93d 03h 57m | ||||||
5 | 2004–2005 | Vincent Riou (FRA) | PRB 2 | 10d 12h 13m | 24d 02h 18m | 36d 09h 48m | 56d 15h 13m | 72d 11h 24m | 86d 32h 13m | |
6 | 2008–2009 | Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) | Foncia | 466 nm | 13d 15h 41m | 27d 00h 34m | 37d 31h 23m | 56d 15h 08m | 71d 17h 12m | 84d 03h 09m |
7 | 2012–2013 | François Gabart (FRA) | Macif | 534 nm | 11d 00h 20m | 23d 03h 43m | 34d 10h 23m | 52d 06h 18m | 66d 01h 39m | 78d 02h 16m |
8 | 2016–2017 | Armel Le Cléac'h (FRA) | Banque Populaire VIII | 09d 09h 56m | 18d 03h 30m | 28d 20h 12m | 47d 00h 32m | 61d 12h 21m | 74d 03h 36m | |
9 | 2020–2021 | Yannick Bestaven (FRA) | Maître Coq IV | 481.8 (7th) | 35d 01h 25m | 55d 00h 22m | 69d 13h 16m | 80d 03h 44m |
Farthest distance covered in 24 hours
editEdition | Year | Skipper | Boat Name | nautical miles/24h |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1989–1990 | Titouan Lamazou (FRA) | Écureuil d'Aquitaine II | 304 |
2 | 1992–1993 | Alain Gautier (FRA) | Bagages Superior | 339 |
3 | 1996–1997 | Yves Parlier (FRA) | Aquitaine Innovations | 374 |
4 | 2000–2001 | Dominique Wavre (SUI) | Union bancaire privée | 430 |
5 | 2004–2005 | Roland Jourdain (FRA) | Sill et Veolia | 439 |
6 | 2008–2009 | Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) | Foncia | 466 |
7 | 2012–2013 | François Gabart (FRA) | Macif | 534 |
8 | 2016–2017 | Alex Thomson (GBR) | Hugo Boss 6 | 536 |
9 | 2020–2021 | Thomas Ruyant (FRA) | LinkedOut | 515 |
Winners' participation and equipment
editYear | Skipper | Previous Start/Finish (Best) |
Name of Boat | Sail No. | Designer | Builder | Year Launched | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1989–1990 | Titouan Lamazou (FRA) | N/A | Écureuil d'Aquitaine II | Luc Bouvet Olivier Petit |
Chantier Capitaine Flint | 1989 | [16] | ||
1992–1993 | Alain Gautier (FRA) | 1 / 1 6th | Bagages Superior | Finot-Conq | CDK Technologies (FRA) | 1992 | Aluminum Construction | [17] | |
1996–1997 | Christophe Auguin (FRA) | Never | Geodis | Finot-Conq | JMV Industries (FRA) | 1994 | [18] | ||
2000–2001 | Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) | Never | PRB 2 | FRA 85 | Finot-Conq | Mag (FRA) | 1999 | [19] | |
2004–2005 | Vincent Riou (FRA) | Never | |||||||
2008–2009 | Michel Desjoyeaux (FRA) | 1 / 1 (1st) | Foncia | FRA 101 | Farr Yacht Design | CDK Technologies (FRA) | 2007 | [20] | |
2012–2013 | François Gabart (FRA) | Never | Macif | FRA 301 | Verdier / VPLP | CDK Technologies (FRA) Green Marine (GBR) |
2011 | [21] | |
2016–2017 | Armel Le Cléac'h (FRA) | 2 / 2 (2nd) | Banque Populaire VIII | FRA 18 | Verdier / VPLP | CDK Technologies (FRA) | 2015 | [22] | |
2020–2021 | Yannick Bestaven (FRA) | 1 / 0 | Maître Coq IV | FRA 17 | Verdier / VPLP | CDK Technologies (FRA) | 2015-03-02 | Hydrofoil | [23] |
Starters, finishers and nationalities
edit1989–90 | 1992–93 | 1996–97 | 2000–01 | 2004–05 | 2008–09 | 2012–13 | 2016–17 | 2020–21 | 2024–25 | Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Finishers Overall | ||||||||||||
Total Finishers | 7 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 18 | 25 | 114 | ||
First Time Finishers | 7 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 18 | 84 | ||
Start/Finish Percentage | 54% | 50% | 40% | 62.5% | 65% | 40% | 55% | 62% | 75.8% | 56% | ||
Male | 7 | 7 | 5 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 18 | 21 | 104 | ||
Male - First Time | 7 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 74 | ||
Female | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 4 | 10 | ||
Female - First Time | - | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | 4 | 10 | ||
Starters | ||||||||||||
Total | 13 | 14 | 15 | 24 | 20 | 30 | 20 | 29 | 33 | 40 | 238 | |
First Time | 13 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 12 | 16 | 5 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 130 | |
Male | 13 | 14 | 13 | 22 | 18 | 28 | 19 | 29 | 27 | 34 | 217 | |
Male - First Time | 13 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 5 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 115 | |
Female | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 21 | |
Female - First Time | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 15 | |
Starter Age | ||||||||||||
Youngest | 27 | 30 | 29 | 24 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 23 | 27 | 23 | 26 | |
Oldest | 89 | 92 | 57 | 59 | 54 | 58 | 57 | 66 | 61 | 65 | 66 | |
Mean | 42 | 46 | 39 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 44 | 43 | 43 | 42 | |
Starters' Nationality | ||||||||||||
AUS | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2 | ||||||||
AUT | 1 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||
BEL | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||
CAN | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 2.5 | ||||||||
CHN | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
ESP | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |||||
FIN | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
FRA | 11 | 8.5 | 10 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 17 | 12.5 | 19.5 | 22 | 26.5 | 152 | |
GBR | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 29 | ||
GER | 1.5 | 1.5 | 3 | |||||||||
HUN | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |||||||
ITA | 1 | 2 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 | 5.5 | ||||||
IRL | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
JPN | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||
NED | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
NZL | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | |||||||||
POL | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
RSA | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
RUS | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||
SUI | 0.5 | 2.5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 13 | |||
USA | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 5 |
Note * Some sailors' dates of birth unknown
See also
edit- IMOCA races
- The Barcelona World Race, a non-stop two handed race, currently run using the IMOCA 60 Class.
- Route du Rhum
- The Velux 5 Oceans Race, a stopping solo race, currently run using the IMOCA 60 Class previously known as the BOC Challenge, later as Around Alone.
- The Ocean Race, a stopping fully crewed race, currently using the Volvo Ocean 65 and IMOCA 60 class. Previously known as the Whitbread Round The World Race and the Volvo Ocean Race.
- Other races
- The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, a stopping crewed race for amateur crews using the Clipper 70 Class.
- Jules Verne Trophy
- Oryx Quest
- Arkéa Ultim Challenge
- Former races including
- The Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, held in 1968–1969, the first round-the-world yacht race.
- The BT Global Challenge, was a race held every four years and followed the westward route.
- The Race, was a race held in 2000, involving multihulls.
- The Oryx Quest, held in 2005, starting from Qatar.
- Other speed sailing records
References
edit- ^ SSN Staff (13 November 2016). "Vendée Globe: Thomson Leads into the Doldrums". Scuttlebutt Sailing News. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ VendéeGlobe.org Staff (13 November 2016). "Home Page, Vendée Globe 2016–2017 [race]". vendeeglobe.org. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ BBC Staff (27 January 2013). "Vendee Globe 2012–13: Francois Gabart Breaks Solo Record [BBC Sport: Sailing]". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- ^ Museler, Chris (9 November 2008). "Racers in Vendée Globe Start Nonstop Solo Quest". New York Times. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
Compared with other global ocean races […] the Vendée Globe is considered the most extreme sailing event in the world
- ^ "Vendée Globe: Sailing's Everest". The Independent. 11 November 2008. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ^ a b The Museum of Yachting (14 November 2016) [1990]. "Philippe Jeantot, 1952–". The Single-Handed Sailors' Hall of Fame. Newport, RI: The Museum of Yachting. Retrieved 14 November 2016 – via Windlass Creative [Sally Anne Santos].
[Quote:] Inducted to Single-Handed Sailors' Hall of Fame, 1990.
- ^ "Introduction". Vendée Globe. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 8 December 2016.[third-party source needed]
- ^ "Edition 1989/1990 : Une grande course est née". Vendée Globe (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2004. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ^ "Vendée Globe 1989–90". Vendée Globe. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
- ^ Evans, Jeremy (1 April 2008). Sailing. Dorling Kindersley Ltd. p. 317. ISBN 978-1-4053-3472-3.
Tragically, another life was lost as French Canadian Gerry Roufs was lost at sea
- ^ VendéeGlobe.org Staff (13 November 2016). "Partners – Vendée Globe 2016–2017". vendeeglobe.org. Retrieved 13 November 2016.[third-party source needed]
- ^ Nielsen, Peter (11 May 2016). "Inside the Vendée Globe". Sail Magazine. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ^ "Vendee Globe: The race to the end of the world". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
- ^ Laven, Kate (3 December 2012). "Vendee Globe 2012–13: Dicing with ice as fleet heads into desolate Southern Ocean". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ^ "What is the Vendée Globe? | Vendée Globe 2024".
- ^ "Boat History Page". Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Boat History Page". Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Boat History Page". Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Document sans titre". Histoiredeshalfs.com. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ "Boat History Page". Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Boat History Page". Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Thierry Tazé-Bernard (15 January 2015). "Armel Le Cléac'h dévoile son novateur Banque Populaire VIII". francetvsport.fr. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "IMOCA Class Website Boat Profile". IMOCA Class Association. Retrieved 11 January 2021.