Category: Vendée Globe Challenge

On Thursday at 4:37 pm, Armel Le Cléac’h crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe in victory. The sailor from Brittany, on board the monohull Banque Populaire VIII, finished his solo circumnavigation without stops or assistance in 74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds. On top of this fine victory, secured after coming second twice in this race in 2009 and 2013, Armel Le Cléac’h has also set a new record for the event, bringing down the time previously established by François Gabart.

 

“Things come in threes” is a saying that Armel Le Cléac’h obviously didn’t want to have any part in. After taking out second place on two occasions, he set out on the Vendée Globe, on 6 November 2016, with the staunch desire to finally add his name to the list of winners of this solo circumnavigation race. This wish was fulfilled on Thursday, after a little over 74 days at sea.

This much-coveted victory comes to a man who has worked flat out with his team on fine-tuning the perfect monohull for meeting this incredible challenge. The victory also marks the success of a sailor who has given his all, for two and a half months, day and night, in all imaginable climatic and sailing conditions.

A racer named Le Cléac’h

Departing from Les Sables d’Olonnes as the favorite, Armel Le Cléac’h quickly took control of the race… with Alex Thomson (Hugo Boss) on his trail. For 74 days, the two sailors engaged in a bitter battle. A consummate racer in the southern oceans, Le Cléac’h went past Cape Horn first, over 800 miles ahead of his main rival, before coming up against less favorable conditions during his climb back up the Atlantic.

For several days, less than 100 miles separated the two men, creating intense suspense around the race’s outcome. But it was finally Armel Le Cléac’h that a horde of sailors would come to welcome as the winner, the atmosphere tremendously warm despite the intense cold off the Vendée.

There was no shortage of emotion this Thursday, and the skipper of the Banque Populaire VIII did not try to hold back his tears. “I don’t really realize what’s happening to me. It’s incredible! I fought out every mile.” Before adding, in reference to Alex Thomson, whose arrival is expected tonight: “He ran a fantastic race. He’s a fearsome rival.”

 

Isabelle Trancoen

Nicknamed “the Everest of the Seas,” the Vendée Globe is considered to be the most demanding race to exist because it is a singlehanded event comprising no stops and no assistance. For its 8^th edition starting this Sunday, 29 skippers will be taking up this landmark navigation challenge. Created in 1989 by Philippe Jeantot, the inaugural competition was won by Titouan Lamazou. From edition to edition, the race has become a myth, progressing from a completely deranged challenge into a high-flying sporting and human trial, which has inspired a few more ideas.

One person, one boat, and the ocean. This was what Philippe Jeantot had in mind when he set up the Vendée Globe in 1989. That year, 13 sailors set off to sail around the world singlehandedly, without stops or assistance, inciting widespread admiration :

 

“La course du siècle, le Vendée Globe Challenge” – Stade 2 du 26 novembre 1989 – INA

 

Ever since, while technology has brought big changes and allowed over 30 days to be slashed from the initial record, taking on the Vendée Globe remains a major sporting challenge.

But “one challenge will replace another,” as Titouan Lamazou observed after his victory in 1990. At the initiative of Lamazou and Florence Arthaud, the Vendée Globe gave birth, four years later, to the Jules Verne Trophy and the dream of sailing around the world in 80 days. Once again, this wager seemed a bit crazy to start off with. Until Bruno Peyron met the challenge in 79 days in 1993. But as the years go by and records are bettered, circumnavigation continues to preserve its incredible aura.

In the next few days, whether boats are manned singlehandedly or by crews, the focus will be on sailing round the world. Twenty-nine sailors now hope to improve François Gabart’ record (78 days, 2 hours and 16 minutes in 2013) while Francis Joyon and his team on Idec Sport are watching weather conditions closely to set off, as soon as possible, on their attempt to win the Jules Verne Trophy, last won in 2012 by Loïck Peyron (45 days, 13 hours and 42 minutes).

 

Isabelle Trancoen (article translated from French)