2008-2009 : A record-breaking Vendée Globe
The 6th Vendee started of with the maximum number of sailors so far: 30. However it would not be the edition with the most Boats finished.A very remarkable victory was for Michael Desjoyeaux, who won also the 2000 edition, in the shortest time till date; he started with damage caused by the severe weather in the Bay of Biscay and had to return for repair. He started ultimately with 41 hrs delay. Notwithstanding this, he managed to pass the whole fleet and finish in 84 days and 3 hours; 5 days ahead of the runner-up.
As said the start was in severe weather which forced the first 4 Boats to retire and 5 skippers returned to base for repairs.
The Doldrums caused a spread in the fleet and the St. Helena high throw the order again upside. However some handful of boats passed Cape of Good Hope almost in sight of each other.
Michael made up till 6th place already.
In the Indian Ocean one after the other sailors had to retire of demasting, groundings and keel problems. Yann Eliès suffered a broken femur some 800 miles south of Australia. Marc Guillemot changed course and awaited the Australian rescue some 48 hrs later.
In the Pacific more skippers had to retire due to damage by huge breakers or Jean-Pierre Dick because of a growler.
After 56 days of sailing, Michael Desjoyeaux rounded Cape Horn followed by Roland Jourdain with some hrs of lead. Another drama happened to Jean Le Cam , who capsized while in 3rd place. Vincent Riou started a search and found the upturned boats and rescued Jean, but he damage his boat in the process and had also to retire. Later he was awarded and equal 3rd place.
The 2 leaders Desjoyeaux and Jourdain battle it out climbing up the Atlantic. Jourain hit a whale first but could sail on, but later was to loose the keel bulb and had to retire.
Only 11 skippers passed the Finish line out of 30 started. The 2 woman taking part Samantha Davies and Dee Caffari, both were amongst the finishers.
2004-2005 : A breathtaking finish
The 2000 Edition of the VendeeGlobe was a fast one, only to be beaten by this 2004 Edition to slashing 7 days of the record to finish in 87 days and about 10 hrs.
This VG was not a strategic game with boats far apart but a close fought battle by the front sailors. Ultimately Vincent Riou won with just 7 hrs advantage over Jean Le Cam.
A kind Bay of Biscay brought some ligh wind sailing, but some good trade winds enabled them to sail quick around Portugal and in 4 days, the Canaries were passed ; in 10 days the Equator.
Apart from 6 yachts, the other 14 were caught by the Dolldrums and suffered un-recoverable backlags.
Thirteen skippers finished this VendeeGlobe and 7 had to retire, of which some with problems at the keel.
This VG was not a strategic game with boats far apart but a close fought battle by the front sailors. Ultimately Vincent Riou won with just 7 hrs advantage over Jean Le Cam.
A kind Bay of Biscay brought some ligh wind sailing, but some good trade winds enabled them to sail quick around Portugal and in 4 days, the Canaries were passed ; in 10 days the Equator.
Apart from 6 yachts, the other 14 were caught by the Dolldrums and suffered un-recoverable backlags.
Thirteen skippers finished this VendeeGlobe and 7 had to retire, of which some with problems at the keel.
2000-2001 : The Express Globe
After the disaster of the former VendeeGlobe, designers, boat-builders and skippers, had discussed how to improve the stability and safety of Open 60ft Monohulls to be able to sail the storms and extreme waves in the Southern Oceans. In this process, they also kept on eye on performance during storms but also during calm periods.In 2000 there were 24 sailors to start the VendeeGlobe in competitive boats.
This became the fastest VG till date and the winner said: "To win, the First Thing is to finish" ; balancing between the right mixture of speed and caution.
In just 93 days and 4hrs, it was Michael Desjoyeaux who crossed the Finish line as first. Ellen MacArthur finish as 2nd just one day later, and Roland Jourdain filled the Podium again two days later. Yves Parlier has long time battled with these leaders but a broken mast throw him far back, finishing 33 days after the winner sailing on a make-shift mast!
This edition, was successful with 15 sailors finishing, 9 retirees and no casualties.
1996-1997 : The Globe spinning out of control
Fifteen Boats start this 96 edition of the VendeeGlobe, with 2 women sailors among them, Isabelle Autissier and Catherine Chabaud. Yves Parlier sails a 60-foot futuristic boat, the first monohull built with carbon.This version again starts in fierce winds right from the start that cause the first damages too serious to continue.
The typical scenario is repeated in the Vendée Globe at planting the bows in the waters of the Great South disreputable: a loner alone in front, and a further chasing group behind.
At the bottom of the world, the solo sailors have to battle the fierce winds and gigantic seas. Three Boats turn over, but luckily all sailors are resqued. Not so for Gerry Roufs, as any signals from him halted; the wreckage of his Boat was 6 Month later found on the Chilean coast.
Christophe Auguin won this race in 105 days in a fine style and a week ahead of Marc Thiercelin (2) and Herve Laurnet (3).
Catherine Chabaud was the 6th and last sailor to finish some 5 weeks after the winner, but she was the first woman to succeed to sail the VendeeGlobe solo.
1992-1993 : The race where dramas first happened
Les Sables d'Olonne, had become the center for solo yachtsmen with their Ocean going Sailing Boats. For the 2nd Vendee there were 14 entrees, where some sailors from the 1st Vendee were considered immediately as favorites.Unfortunately Mike Plant returning for his 2nd Vendee failed to turn up and was found drowned on his way in.
This was not the only casualty. The start was in fierce winds in an angry Bay of Biscay and several yachts had soon damage and had to return. Loïck Peyron could not start as his Hull was leaking badly, Yves Parlier suffered a broken mast and started with 10 days delay. The worsed came when Nigel Burgess was found drowned off Cape Finisterre, probably being knocked out and thrown overboard.
Alain Gautier was able to continue and stay ahead till his winning Finish. Philippe Poupon rounded Cape Horn only 36 hrs after Alain, but lost his mast a few days before the Finish, only the hand the 2nd place to VDH (Jean-Luc Van den Heede), 6 1/2 days after the winner.
And 1/2 day later Philippe Poupon, was able to finish for 3rd. Only half of the started Boats succeeded in reaching the Finish.
1989-1990 : A great race is born
Les Sables d'Olonne, 26th November 1989 and 13 Sailors are preparing for the first Vendee solo (single-handed) World Tour; no stop-overs allowed. Full of emotions, a mixture of apprehension and excitement they started this adventure.
Lamazou, showed to be the fastest of them all as he crossed the finished line as first after 109 days and 24,000 Nm of Sailing ; He has lead this race from the Cape Finisterre, the 3rd day into the race.
Lamazou, showed to be the fastest of them all as he crossed the finished line as first after 109 days and 24,000 Nm of Sailing ; He has lead this race from the Cape Finisterre, the 3rd day into the race.
Loïck Peyron's, finished as 2nd some 30 hrs later, but he had
saved another participant Philippe Poupon, whose ketch, "Fleury Michon X", turned over on her side in the forties.
Jean-Luc Van den Heede(VDH) sailed to the 3rd spot, at the helm of "36.15 MET", a Harlé design in aluminium. Spartan in appearance, this monohull corresponded to the budget of this old sea dog, who won the admiration of everyone down in the sixties.
Only 7 Boast sailed over the Finish line, but luckily all sailors returned safely home.
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