Vendée Globe

Vendée Globe

The route of the Vendée Globe race.
Founded 1989
Classes IMOCA 60
Start Les Sables-d'Olonne
Finish Les Sables-d'Olonne
Type single-handed non-stop round-the-world race
Most recent champion(s) Macif
François Gabart
Most titles Michel Desjoyeaux (2)
Official website http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/

The Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance.[1] The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989,[2] and since 1992 has taken place every four years. The 2016–2017 edition is planned to start on Sunday, 6 November 2016.[3]

As the only single-handed non-stop round-the-world race (in contrast to the VELUX 5 Oceans Race, 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 Jeantot. Jeantot had competed in the BOC Challenge (now the VELUX 5 Oceans Race) in 1982–83 and 1986–87, 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 sailors.[4]

The first edition of the race was run in 1989–90, and was won by Titouan Lamazou; Jeantot himself took part, and placed fourth.[5] The next edition of the race was in 1992–93; and it has since then been run every four years.

Yachts

Hommage au Vendée Globe by Raphaël Toussaint, 1999

The 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

The race starts and finishes in Les Sables-d'Olonne, in the Vendée département of France; both Les Sables d’Olonne and the Vendée Conseil Général are official race sponsors.[6] 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.[7] The race generally runs from November to February; and is timed to place the competitors in the Southern Ocean 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:

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 the restart 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, 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.[8]

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 2,500 miles (4,000 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,[9] any entrant to the Vendée Globe will have amassed substantial sailing experience.

Previous results

1989–90

The inaugural edition of the race was led from early on by the eventual winner, Titouan Lamazou, on Ecureuil d'Aquitaine II. Philippe Jeantot, the race's founder, had problems with breakdowns, and then unfavourable winds, which held him back from the race lead. Philippe Poupon's ketch Fleury Michon X capsized in the Southern Ocean; and Poupon was rescued by Loïck Peyron, who finally finished second, in what was generally a successful first run of the race.[5]

SailorYachtTime
France Titouan LamazouEcureuil d'Aquitaine II109d 08h 48' 50"
France Loïck PeyronLada Poch110d 01h 18' 06"
France Jean-Luc Van Den Heede36.15 MET112d 01h 14' 00"
France Philippe JeantotCrédit Agricole IV113d 23h 47' 47"
France Pierre FollenfantTBS-Charente Maritime114d 21h 09' 06"
France Alain GautierGenerali Concorde132d 13h 01' 48"
France Jean-François CosteCacharel163d 01h 19' 20"
Did not finish
France Patrice CarpentierLe Nouvel Observateurdamaged auto-pilot (Falklands)
United States Mike PlantDuracellreceived help (New Zealand)
South Africa Bertie ReedGrinakerdamaged rudder
France Jean-Yves TerlainUAPdismasted
France Philippe PouponFleury Michon Xcapsized
United States Guy BernardinO-Kaytoothache

1992–93

The second edition of the race attracted a great deal of media coverage. 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 Azores.

The race set off into extremely bad weather in the Bay of Biscay, 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 was found drowned off Cape Finisterre, 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. 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.[10]

SailorYachtTime
France Alain GautierBagages Superior110d 02h 22' 35"
France Jean-Luc Van Den HeedeGroupe Sofap-Helvim116d 15h 01' 11"
France Philippe PouponFleury-Michon X117d 03h 34' 24"
France Yves ParlierCacolac d'Aquitaine125d 02h 42' 24"
Hungary Nándor FaK&H Banque Matav128d 16h 05' 04"
Spain José Luis de UgarteEuskadi Europ 93 BBK134d 05h 04' 00"
France Jean-Yves HasselinPRB / Solo Nantes153d 05h 14' 00"
Did not finish
France Switzerland Bernard GallayVuarnet Watchesrigging problems
Italy Vittorio MalingriEverlast / Neil Pryde Sailslost rudder
France Bertrand de BrocGroupe LGkeel problems
United Kingdom Alan Wynne-ThomasCardiff Discoverymedical reasons
France Loïck PeyronFujicolor IIIsail failure
France Thierry ArnaudMaître Coq / Le Mondeunprepared
United Kingdom Nigel BurgessNigel Burgess Yachtslost at sea
United States Mike PlantCoyotelost at sea prior to departure

1996–97

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 Parlier as well as Isabelle Autissier 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; 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. 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.[11]

Pete Goss was later awarded the Légion d'honneur for his rescue of Dinelli.[12] The capsize of several boats in this race prompted tightening up of the safety rules for entrants, particularly regarding boat safety and stability.[13]

The book Godforsaken Sea: The True Story of a Race Through the World's Most Dangerous Waters by Derek Lundy profiles this edition of the race.[14]

SailorYachtTime
France Christophe AuguinGeodis105d 20h 31'
France Marc ThiercelinCrédit Immobilier113d 08h 26'
France Hervé LaurentGroupe LG-Traitmat114d 16h 43'
France Éric DumontCafé Legal-Le Goût116d 16h 43'
United Kingdom Pete GossAqua Quorum126d 21h 25'
France Catherine ChabaudWhirlpool-Europe 2140d 04h 38'
Did not finish
France Isabelle AutissierPRBbroken rudder
France Yves ParlierAquitaine Innovationsbroken rudder
France Bertrand de BrocPommes Rhône Alpescapsized
United Kingdom Tony BullimoreExide Challengercapsized
France Thierry DuboisAmnesty Internationalcapsized
Hungary Nándor FaBudapestcollision
France Didier MunduteguyClub 60è Suddismasted
France Raphaël DinelliAlgimousscapsized
Belgium Patrick de RadiguèsAfibelbeached
Canada Gerry RoufsGroupe LG2lost at sea

2000–01

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 MacArthur, who at 24 years old had managed to put together a serious campaign with her custom-built boat Kingfisher.

Yves Parlier was the first to establish a lead; however, he was soon under attack by Michel Desjoyeaux, 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 (970 km) by Cape Horn; 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 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, 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.[15][16]

SailorYachtTime
France Michel DesjoyeauxPRB93d 3h 57'
United Kingdom Ellen MacArthurKingfisher94d 4h 25'
France Roland JourdainSill Matines La potagère96d 1h 2'
France Marc ThiercelinActive Wear102d 20h 37'
Switzerland Dominic WavreUnion bancaire Privée105d 2h 45'
France Thomas CovilleSodébo105d 7h 24'
United Kingdom Mike GoldingTeam Group 4110d 16h 22'
France Switzerland Bernard GallayVoilà.fr111d 16h 7'
United Kingdom Josh HallGartmore111d 19h 48'
France Joé SeetenChocolats du Monde115d 16h 46'
France Patrice CarpentierVM Matériaux116d 0h 32'
Italy Simone BianchettiAquarelle.com121d 1h 28'
France Yves ParlierAquitaine Innovations126d 23h 36
France Didier MunduteguyDDP / 60e Sud135d 15h 17'
Italy Pasquale de GregorioWind Telecommunicazioni158d 2h 37'
Did not finish
France Catherine ChabaudWhirlpooldismasted
France Thierry DuboisSolidaireselectronic problems
France Raphaël DinelliSogal Extensodamaged rudder
Russia Fedor KonioukhovModern Univ./Humanitiesretired
Spain Javier SansoOld Spiceretired
France Éric DumontEuroka Servicesdamaged rudder
United Kingdom Richard TolkienThis Time – Argos – Help For Autistic Childrenrig damage
Switzerland Bernard StammArmor-Lux/foies Grassteering problem
Belgium Patrick de RadiguèsLibre Belgiquebeached

2004–05

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 equator after just 10 days, three days faster than the previous race, and all of the starters were still sailing.

Attrition began on entry into the Roaring Forties: Alex Thomson diverted to Cape Town 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 anchored to make unassisted rudder repairs. Gear problems and abandonments 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.[17][18]

SailorYachtTime
France Vincent RiouPRB87d 10h 47' 55"
France Jean Le CamBonduelle87d 17h 20' 8"
United Kingdom Mike GoldingEcover88d 15h 15 '13"
Switzerland Dominique WavreTemenos92d 17h 13' 20"
France Sébastien JosseVMI93 d0h 2' 10"
France Jean-Pierre DickVirbac-Paprec98 d3h 49' 38"
United Kingdom Conrad HumphreysHellomoto104d 14h 32' 24"
France Joé SeetenArcelor Dunkerque104d 23h 2' 45"
United States Bruce SchwabOcean Planet109d 19h 58' 57"
France Canada Benoît ParnaudeauMax Havelaar / Best Western116d 1h 6' 54"
France Anne LiardetROXY119d 5h 28' 40"
France Raphaël DinelliAKENA Vérandas125d 4h 7' 14"
France Karen LeiboviciBenefic126d 8h 2' 20"
Did not finish
France Marc ThiercelinPro-Formtechnical problems
France Roland JourdainSill Véoliakeel problems
United Kingdom Alex ThomsonHugo Bosshole in the deck
France Patrice CarpentierVM Matériauxbroken boom
Australia Nick MoloneySkandialost the keel
France Hervé LaurentUUDSrudder problem
Austria Norbert SedlacekBrotherkeel problems

2008–09

The 2008 edition of the Vendée Globe began on 9 November 2008 and was won by Michel Desjoyaux, setting a new Vendée Globe record at 84d 3h 9'8".

SailorYachtTime
France Michel DesjoyeauxFoncia84d 3h 9' 8"
France Armel Le Cléac’hBrit Air89d 9h 39' 35"
France Marc GuillemotSafran95d 3h 19' 36"
United Kingdom Samantha DaviesRoxy95d 4h 39' 1"
United Kingdom Brian ThompsonBahrain Team Pindar98d 20h 29' 55"
United Kingdom Dee CaffariAviva99d 1h 10' 57"
France Arnaud BoissièresAkena Verandas105d 2h 33' 50"
United Kingdom Steve WhiteToe In The Water109d 0h 36' 55"
United States Rich WilsonGreat American III121d 0h 41' 19"
France Raphaël DinelliFondation Ocean Vital125d 2h 32' 24"
Austria Norbert SedlacekNauticsport-Kapsch126d 5h 31' 56"
Did not finish
France Vincent RiouPRBday 59: dismasted. Redress Given: 3rd place
France Roland JourdainVeolia Environnementday 85: lost keel
France Jean Le CamVM Matériauxday 58: lost keel bulb, capsized
United Kingdom Jonny MalbonArtemisday 56: delaminated mainsail
France Jean-Pierre DickPaprec-Virbac 2day 53: lost port rudder
Canada Derek HatfieldAlgimouss Spirit of Canadaday 50: broken spreaders
France Sébastien JosseBTday 50: broken rudder system
France Yann ElièsGeneraliday 40: fractured femur
United Kingdom Mike GoldingEcover 3day 38: dismasted
France Jean-Baptiste DejeantyGroupe Maisonneuveday 37: faulty halyards, broken auto-pilot
France Loïck PeyronGitana Eightyday 36: dismasted
Switzerland Bernard StammCheminées Poujoulatday 36: ran aground
Switzerland Dominique WavreTemenosday 35: damaged keel box
Spain Unai BasurkoPakea Bizkaiaday 28: faulty starboard rudder box
France Jérémie BeyouDelta Doreday 17: damaged rig
United Kingdom Alex ThomsonHugo Bossday 6: cracked hull
France Yannick BestavenEnergies Autour du Mondeday 4: dismasted
France Marc ThiercelinDCNSday 4: dismasted
France Kito de PavantGroupe Belday 4: dismasted

2012–13

The 2012 edition of the Vendée Globe started on 10 November 2012. The race saw the 24-hour singlehanded distance record repeatedly reset by several competitors. Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire) set a new race record for shortest time to the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope,[19] and François Gabart (Macif) set new race records for shortest time to the longitude of Cape Leeuwin in Australia and to Cape Horn. On 27 January 2013, Gabart set a new Vendée Globe record with just over 78 days to complete the circumnavigation. The interval of 3h17’ between the arrivals of the first and second contenders is also the shortest in the race's history.[20] Also the interval of 26d0h17'50" between the winner and last finisher is the shortest in the race's history.

SailorYachtTime
France François GabartMacif78d 2h 16' 40" (new record)
France Armel Le Cleac'hBanque Populaire78d 5h 33' 52"
United Kingdom Alex ThomsonHugo Boss80d 19h 23' 43"
France Jean-Pierre DickVirbac-Paprec 386d 3h 3' 40"
France Jean Le CamSynerCiel88d 0h 12’ 58"
United Kingdom Mike GoldingGamesa88d 6h 36' 26"
Switzerland Dominique WavreMirabaud90d 3h 14' 42"
France Arnaud BoissièresAkena Vérandas91d 2h 09' 02"
France Bertrand De BrocVotre Nom autour du Monde avec EDM Projets92d 17h 10' 14" (incl. 12h time penalty for unsealing and using emergency water supply)
France Tanguy De Lamotteinitiatives cœur98d 21h 56' 10"
France Italy Alessandro Di BenedettoTeam Plastique104d 02h 34' 30"
Did not finish
Spain Javier SansoAcciona 100% EcoPoweredday 84: capsized
Switzerland Bernard StammCheminées Poujoulatday 51: disqualified after receiving assistance, however he completed the course in 88d 10h 27' 50"
France Vincent RiouPRBday 14: broken outrigger stay resulting from collision
Poland Zbigniew GutkowskiEnergaday 11: electrical issues resulting in autopilot not being able to work
France Jérémie BeyouMaître CoQday 9: broken keel ram
United Kingdom Samantha DaviesSavéolday 5: dismasted
France Louis BurtonBureau Valléeday 3: collision
France Kito De PavantGroupe Belday 2: collision
France Marc GuillemotSafranday 1: damaged keel

See also

External links

References

  1. Vendée Globe, the official web site (English version)
  2. "Vendee Globe 2012–13: Francois Gabart breaks solo record". BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  3. "30 skippers for the next Vendee Globe?". The Daily Sail. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  4. Introduction, from the official web site
  5. 1 2 1989/1990 Edition: A great race is born, from the official web site
  6. Partners, from the official web site
  7. Route, from the official web site
  8. 1996/1997 Edition : The Globe spinning out of control, from the official web site
  9. Qualifying for the Route du Rhum, Conrad Humphreys Racing
  10. 1992/1993 Edition: The edition with the first real dramas, from the official web site
  11. 1996/1997 Edition : The Globe spinning out of control, from the official web site
  12. Pete Goss MBE, from Now You're Talking
  13. Vendée Globe — Entering a New Era, from Sailnet.com
  14. Godforsaken Sea: The True Story of a Race Through the World's Most Dangerous Waters, by Derek Lundy. Anchor, 2000. ISBN 0-385-72000-9
  15. Vendee Globe: The full story, from the BBC
  16. 2000/2001 Edition : The Express Globe, from the official web site
  17. Rankings and Positions, from the official web site
  18. Vendée Globe 2004–05 Final Results, from about.com
  19. "Le Cleac'h crossed the Cape of Good Hope".
  20. Le plus petit écart de l’histoire, Jan 27 2013

Coordinates: 46°29′42″N 1°47′19″W / 46.4951°N 1.7886°W / 46.4951; -1.7886

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