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
![](../I/m/Hommage_au_Vend%C3%A9e_Globe_par_Rapha%C3%ABl_Toussaint.jpg)
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, weather, 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 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]
Sailor | Yacht | Time |
---|---|---|
![]() | Ecureuil d'Aquitaine II | 109d 08h 48' 50" |
![]() | Lada Poch | 110d 01h 18' 06" |
![]() | 36.15 MET | 112d 01h 14' 00" |
![]() | Crédit Agricole IV | 113d 23h 47' 47" |
![]() | TBS-Charente Maritime | 114d 21h 09' 06" |
![]() | Generali Concorde | 132d 13h 01' 48" |
![]() | Cacharel | 163d 01h 19' 20" |
Did not finish | ||
![]() | Le Nouvel Observateur | damaged auto-pilot (Falklands) |
![]() | Duracell | received help (New Zealand) |
![]() | Grinaker | damaged rudder |
![]() | UAP | dismasted |
![]() | Fleury Michon X | capsized |
![]() | O-Kay | toothache |
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]
Sailor | Yacht | Time |
---|---|---|
![]() | Bagages Superior | 110d 02h 22' 35" |
![]() | Groupe Sofap-Helvim | 116d 15h 01' 11" |
![]() | Fleury-Michon X | 117d 03h 34' 24" |
![]() | Cacolac d'Aquitaine | 125d 02h 42' 24" |
![]() | K&H Banque Matav | 128d 16h 05' 04" |
![]() | Euskadi Europ 93 BBK | 134d 05h 04' 00" |
![]() | PRB / Solo Nantes | 153d 05h 14' 00" |
Did not finish | ||
![]() ![]() | Vuarnet Watches | rigging problems |
![]() | Everlast / Neil Pryde Sails | lost rudder |
![]() | Groupe LG | keel problems |
![]() | Cardiff Discovery | medical reasons |
![]() | Fujicolor III | sail failure |
![]() | Maître Coq / Le Monde | unprepared |
![]() | Nigel Burgess Yachts | lost at sea |
![]() | Coyote | lost 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]
Sailor | Yacht | Time |
---|---|---|
![]() | Geodis | 105d 20h 31' |
![]() | Crédit Immobilier | 113d 08h 26' |
![]() | Groupe LG-Traitmat | 114d 16h 43' |
![]() | Café Legal-Le Goût | 116d 16h 43' |
![]() | Aqua Quorum | 126d 21h 25' |
![]() | Whirlpool-Europe 2 | 140d 04h 38' |
Did not finish | ||
![]() | PRB | broken rudder |
![]() | Aquitaine Innovations | broken rudder |
![]() | Pommes Rhône Alpes | capsized |
![]() | Exide Challenger | capsized |
![]() | Amnesty International | capsized |
![]() | Budapest | collision |
![]() | Club 60è Sud | dismasted |
![]() | Algimouss | capsized |
![]() | Afibel | beached |
![]() | Groupe LG2 | lost 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]
Sailor | Yacht | Time |
---|---|---|
![]() | PRB | 93d 3h 57' |
![]() | Kingfisher | 94d 4h 25' |
![]() | Sill Matines La potagère | 96d 1h 2' |
![]() | Active Wear | 102d 20h 37' |
![]() | Union bancaire Privée | 105d 2h 45' |
![]() | Sodébo | 105d 7h 24' |
![]() | Team Group 4 | 110d 16h 22' |
![]() ![]() | Voilà.fr | 111d 16h 7' |
![]() | Gartmore | 111d 19h 48' |
![]() | Chocolats du Monde | 115d 16h 46' |
![]() | VM Matériaux | 116d 0h 32' |
![]() | Aquarelle.com | 121d 1h 28' |
![]() | Aquitaine Innovations | 126d 23h 36 |
![]() | DDP / 60e Sud | 135d 15h 17' |
![]() | Wind Telecommunicazioni | 158d 2h 37' |
Did not finish | ||
![]() | Whirlpool | dismasted |
![]() | Solidaires | electronic problems |
![]() | Sogal Extenso | damaged rudder |
![]() | Modern Univ./Humanities | retired |
![]() | Old Spice | retired |
![]() | Euroka Services | damaged rudder |
![]() | This Time – Argos – Help For Autistic Children | rig damage |
![]() | Armor-Lux/foies Gras | steering problem |
![]() | Libre Belgique | beached |
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]
Sailor | Yacht | Time |
---|---|---|
![]() | PRB | 87d 10h 47' 55" |
![]() | Bonduelle | 87d 17h 20' 8" |
![]() | Ecover | 88d 15h 15 '13" |
![]() | Temenos | 92d 17h 13' 20" |
![]() | VMI | 93 d0h 2' 10" |
![]() | Virbac-Paprec | 98 d3h 49' 38" |
![]() | Hellomoto | 104d 14h 32' 24" |
![]() | Arcelor Dunkerque | 104d 23h 2' 45" |
![]() | Ocean Planet | 109d 19h 58' 57" |
![]() ![]() | Max Havelaar / Best Western | 116d 1h 6' 54" |
![]() | ROXY | 119d 5h 28' 40" |
![]() | AKENA Vérandas | 125d 4h 7' 14" |
![]() | Benefic | 126d 8h 2' 20" |
Did not finish | ||
![]() | Pro-Form | technical problems |
![]() | Sill Véolia | keel problems |
![]() | Hugo Boss | hole in the deck |
![]() | VM Matériaux | broken boom |
![]() | Skandia | lost the keel |
![]() | UUDS | rudder problem |
![]() | Brother | keel 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".
Sailor | Yacht | Time |
---|---|---|
![]() | Foncia | 84d 3h 9' 8" |
![]() | Brit Air | 89d 9h 39' 35" |
![]() | Safran | 95d 3h 19' 36" |
![]() | Roxy | 95d 4h 39' 1" |
![]() | Bahrain Team Pindar | 98d 20h 29' 55" |
![]() | Aviva | 99d 1h 10' 57" |
![]() | Akena Verandas | 105d 2h 33' 50" |
![]() | Toe In The Water | 109d 0h 36' 55" |
![]() | Great American III | 121d 0h 41' 19" |
![]() | Fondation Ocean Vital | 125d 2h 32' 24" |
![]() | Nauticsport-Kapsch | 126d 5h 31' 56" |
Did not finish | ||
![]() | PRB | day 59: dismasted. Redress Given: 3rd place |
![]() | Veolia Environnement | day 85: lost keel |
![]() | VM Matériaux | day 58: lost keel bulb, capsized |
![]() | Artemis | day 56: delaminated mainsail |
![]() | Paprec-Virbac 2 | day 53: lost port rudder |
![]() | Algimouss Spirit of Canada | day 50: broken spreaders |
![]() | BT | day 50: broken rudder system |
![]() | Generali | day 40: fractured femur |
![]() | Ecover 3 | day 38: dismasted |
![]() | Groupe Maisonneuve | day 37: faulty halyards, broken auto-pilot |
![]() | Gitana Eighty | day 36: dismasted |
![]() | Cheminées Poujoulat | day 36: ran aground |
![]() | Temenos | day 35: damaged keel box |
![]() | Pakea Bizkaia | day 28: faulty starboard rudder box |
![]() | Delta Dore | day 17: damaged rig |
![]() | Hugo Boss | day 6: cracked hull |
![]() | Energies Autour du Monde | day 4: dismasted |
![]() | DCNS | day 4: dismasted |
![]() | Groupe Bel | day 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.
Sailor | Yacht | Time |
---|---|---|
![]() | Macif | 78d 2h 16' 40" (new record) |
![]() | Banque Populaire | 78d 5h 33' 52" |
![]() | Hugo Boss | 80d 19h 23' 43" |
![]() | Virbac-Paprec 3 | 86d 3h 3' 40" |
![]() | SynerCiel | 88d 0h 12’ 58" |
![]() | Gamesa | 88d 6h 36' 26" |
![]() | Mirabaud | 90d 3h 14' 42" |
![]() | Akena Vérandas | 91d 2h 09' 02" |
![]() | Votre Nom autour du Monde avec EDM Projets | 92d 17h 10' 14" (incl. 12h time penalty for unsealing and using emergency water supply) |
![]() | initiatives cœur | 98d 21h 56' 10" |
![]() ![]() | Team Plastique | 104d 02h 34' 30" |
Did not finish | ||
![]() | Acciona 100% EcoPowered | day 84: capsized |
![]() | Cheminées Poujoulat | day 51: disqualified after receiving assistance, however he completed the course in 88d 10h 27' 50" |
![]() | PRB | day 14: broken outrigger stay resulting from collision |
![]() | Energa | day 11: electrical issues resulting in autopilot not being able to work |
![]() | Maître CoQ | day 9: broken keel ram |
![]() | Savéol | day 5: dismasted |
![]() | Bureau Vallée | day 3: collision |
![]() | Groupe Bel | day 2: collision |
![]() | Safran | day 1: damaged keel |
See also
- Clipper Round the World Yacht Race
- Global Challenge
- Route du Rhum
- VELUX 5 Oceans Race
- Volvo Ocean Race
External links
References
- ↑ Vendée Globe, the official web site (English version)
- ↑ "Vendee Globe 2012–13: Francois Gabart breaks solo record". BBC. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ↑ "30 skippers for the next Vendee Globe?". The Daily Sail. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
- ↑ Introduction, from the official web site
- 1 2 1989/1990 Edition: A great race is born, from the official web site
- ↑ Partners, from the official web site
- ↑ Route, from the official web site
- ↑ 1996/1997 Edition : The Globe spinning out of control, from the official web site
- ↑ Qualifying for the Route du Rhum, Conrad Humphreys Racing
- ↑ 1992/1993 Edition: The edition with the first real dramas, from the official web site
- ↑ 1996/1997 Edition : The Globe spinning out of control, from the official web site
- ↑ Pete Goss MBE, from Now You're Talking
- ↑ Vendée Globe — Entering a New Era, from Sailnet.com
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Vendee Globe: The full story, from the BBC
- ↑ 2000/2001 Edition : The Express Globe, from the official web site
- ↑ Rankings and Positions, from the official web site
- ↑ Vendée Globe 2004–05 Final Results, from about.com
- ↑ "Le Cleac'h crossed the Cape of Good Hope".
- ↑ Le plus petit écart de l’histoire, Jan 27 2013
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Coordinates: 46°29′42″N 1°47′19″W / 46.4951°N 1.7886°W