Vendée Globe
Vendée Globe solo, non-stop round-the-world sailboat race is the ultimate expression of France’s insatiable appetite for all things offshore sailing
Sailors Competing in the Vendée Globe are a Breed of Their Own
Alex Thomson on the dock in Les Sables d’Olonne, wearing earbuds to drown out the roar of the madding crowd, the day before the start of the Vendée Globe this past November As I write this the two leading sailors in the Vendée Globe, Armel Le Cléac’h on Banque Populaire and ...read more
Colman Finishes Epic Vendée Under Jury Rig
New Zealander Conrad Colman (who is also a longtime resident of the United States) has finished 16th in the Vendée Globe, after sailing the better part of the last month under jury rig: a truly epic effort. Despite his setbacks, Colman’s total elapsed time was 110 days 1 hour 58 ...read more
Wilson Completes Second Vendée Globe
It’s a Lucky 13th for Rich Wilson American sailor Rich Wilson has not only completed his second Vendée Globe but finished in 13th place out of 29 starters—a great feat for the oldest competitor in this solo race around the world. In completing the event, the 66-year-old ...read more
Le Cléac'h Wins Vendée Globe
Amel Le Cléac'h, 39, from Brittany, France, crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe Race in Les Sables d'Olonne, France, earlier today at 1537hrs UTC after 74 days, 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds at sea aboard his 60ft racing yacht Banque Populaire VIII. Le Cléac'h’s ...read more
Vendée Globe End Game
With less than a day to go in the Vendée Globe, it appears Armel Le Cléac'h aboard Banque Populaire VIII will successfully fend off the recent challenge by British sailor Alex Thomson aboard Hugo Boss and finish first in Les Sables d'Olonne, France: despite Thomson’s having cut ...read more
Down to the Wire in Vendée Globe Thriller
British sailor Alex Thomson aboard Hugo Boss has been playing catch-up ever since pre-race favorite French sailor Armel Le Cléac'h aboard Banque Populaire VIII took the lead on December 2—thanks in no small part to Thomson losing his starboard daggerboard following a collision ...read more
Waterlines: Vendée Globe Sailors are a Breed Apart
The sailors who compete in the Vendée Globe truly are a breed apart As I write this the two leading sailors in the Vendée Globe, Armel Le Cléac’h on Banque Populaire and Alex Thomson on Hugo Boss, are heading up the Atlantic Ocean toward the Doldrums, and what I’m wondering is ...read more
Another Vendée War of Attrition
For all the advances made in IMOCA 60 design and safety, when it comes the Vendée Globe solo nonstop race around the world, there’s still an element of Russian roulette to the event, especially in the Southern Ocean portion of the race—and the 2016-17 installment has been no ...read more
Vendée Globe Skipper Awaits Rescue
French Vendée Globe competitor Kito de Pavant is currently awaiting rescue after his IMOCA 60 Bastide Otio struck an unidentified floating object that destroyed his keel housing, ripped off his aft keel mountings and left the appendage supported by only its hydraulic ram. De ...read more
France’s Vendée Globe
France’s Vendée Globe has to be seen to be believed Before leaving for Les Sables d’Olonne on the southwest coast of France this past November I told some curious non-sailing friends of mine that I was off to witness the start of the most popular sailboat race in the world. “You ...read more
Vendée Globe off to a Fast Start
The Vendée Globesolo round-the-world race is off to a fast start, following a spectacular sendoff in sparkling conditions this past Sunday. Not surprisingly, given the robust conditions out on notoriously rough Bay of Biscay, the newest generation of IMOCA 60s with their ...read more
Vendée Globe Set to Start
What to make of the Vendée Globe solo, nonstop round-the-world sailboat race set to start off Les Sables d’Olonne, France, November 6? Is it the ultimate expression of France’s insatiable appetite for all things offshore sailing? The ultimate in monohull sailing technology? The ...read more
Vendée Globe: Road to Ruin or Glory?
The seventh edition of the Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race was by many measures the most successful ever. Despite the fact that the starting fleet of 20 boats was about a third smaller than the 2008/09 fleet, there were the same number of finishers—11 in total. It’s a ...read more
Vendée Globe Skipper Jean-Pierre Dick Loses Keel
Vendée Globe skipper Jean-Pierre Dick’s hope of placing third was crushed Monday when his boat, Virbac-Paprec 3, suddenly lost its entire 4-ton keel just before midnight. With only 2,000 miles left in his third Vendée Globe, the incident occurred approximately 500 miles ...read more