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The Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years. 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 1982-1983 and 1986-1987, winning both times; dissatisfied with the "stopping" format, he decided to set up a new non-stop race, which he felt would be the ultimate challenge for single-handed sailors. The first edition of the race was run in 1989-1990, and was won by Titouan Lamazou; Jeantot himself took part, and placed fourth. The next edition of the race was in 1992-1993; since then it has been run every four years. The boats 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. 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. The race generally runs from November to February; it is timed to place the competitors in the Southern Ocean in 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; and 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 re-start the race, as long the re-start 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 1996-1997 race Canadian Gerry Roufs was tragically lost at sea. 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 a completion of the previous Vendée Globe. The qualifying passage must have been completed on the same boat to be raced in the Vendée; or the competitor must complete an additional trans-oceanic observation passage, of not less than 2,500 miles, in that boat, at an average speed of at least 7 knots (13 km/h). Since trans-ocean races typically have significant qualifying criteria of their own, any entrant to the Vendée will have amassed substantial sailing experience. 1989-1990 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; Poupon was rescued by Loïck Peyron, who finally finished second, in what was generally a successful first run of the race. Titouan Lamazou Ecureuil d'Aquitaine II France 109 d 08 h 48'50 Loïck Peyron Lada Poch France 110 d 01 h 18'06 Jean-Luc Van den Heede 36.15 MET France 112 d 01 h 14'00 Philippe Jeantot Crédit Agricole IV France 113 d 23 h 47'47 Pierre Follenfant TBS-Charente Maritime France 114 d 21 h 09'06 Alain Gautier Generali Concorde France 132 d 13 h 01'48 Jean-François Coste Cacharel France 163 d 01 h 19'20 Patrice Carpentier Le Nouvel Observateur France damaged auto-pilot (Falklands) Mike Plant Duracell USA received help (New Zealand) Bertie Reed Grinaker South Africa damaged rudder Jean-Yves Terlain UAP France dismasted Philippe Poupon Fleury Michon X France capsized Guy Bernardin O-Kay USA toothache 1992-1993 The second edition of the race attracted a great deal of media coverage; with several participants from the first race, and some promising newcomers, it was set to be an exciting event. Unfortunately, American Mike Plant, one of the entrants in the first race, failed to make the start; he was lost at sea on the way to the race. The race set off into extremely bad weather in the Bay of Biscay; 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 retire in New Zealand. Gautier continued with Philippe Poupon close behind, but a dismasting close to the finish held Poupon back and gave second place to Jean-Luc van den Heede. Alain Gautier Bagages Superior France 110 d 02 h 22'35 Jean-Luc van den Heede Groupe Sofap-Helvim France 116 d 15 h 01'11 Philippe Poupon Fleury-Michon X France 117 d 03 h 34'24 Yves Parlier Cacolac d'Aquitaine France 125 d 02 h 42'24 Nandor Fa K&H Banque Matav Hungary 128 d 16 h 05'04 José de Ugarte Euskadi Europ 93 BBK Spain 134 d 05 h 04'00 Jean-Yves Hasselin PRB/Solo Nantes France 153 d 05 h 14'00 Bernard Gallay Vuarnet Watches Switzerland rigging problems Vittorio Mallingri Everlast/Neil Pryde Sails Italy lost rudder Bertrand de Broc Groupe LG France keel problems Alan Wynne-Thomas Cardiff Discovery G.B. medical reasons Loïck Peyron Fujicolor III France sail failure Thierry Arnaud Maître Coq/Le Monde France unprepared Nigel Burgess Nigel Burgess Yachts G.B. lost at sea 1996-1997 Another heavy-weather start in the Bay of Biscay knocked Nandor Fa and Didier Munduteguy out of the race early; 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 was knocked out after hitting ice, and Isabelle Autissier had rudder damage, leaving Christophe Auguin to lead the way into the south. Heavy weather took a more serious toll in the far Southern Ocean. Raphaël Dinelli was capsized and dramatically rescued by Pete Goss; then, within a few hours of each other, Thierry Dubois and Tony Bullimore were capsized, and rescued by Australian rescue teams. Finally, contact was lost with Gerry Roufs; despite four of the racers combing the ocean, no trace of him was found. The race was won by Christophe Auguin; and Catherine Chabaud, sixth and last, was the first woman to finish the race. Pete Goss was later awarded the Légion d'honneur for his rescue of Dinelli. The capsize of several boats in this race prompted tightening up of the safety rules for entrants, particularly regarding boat safety and stability. 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. Christophe Auguin Geodis France 105 d 20 h 31' Marc Thiercelin Crédit Immobilier France 113 d 08 h 26' Hervé Laurent Groupe LG-Traitmat France 114 d 16 h 43' Eric Dumont Café Legal-Le Goût France 116 d 16 h 43' Pete Goss Aqua Quorum G.B. 126 d 21 h 25' Catherine Chabaud Whirlpool-Europe 2 France 140 d 04 h 38' Isabelle Autissier PRB France broken rudder Yves Parlier Aquitaine Innovations France broken rudder Bertrand de Broc Pommes Rhône Alpes France capsized Tony Bullimore Exide Challenger G.B. capsized Thierry Dubois Amnesty International France capsized Nandor Fa Budapest Hungary collision Didier Munduteguy Club 60è Sud France dismasted Raphaël Dinelli Algimouss France capsized Patrick de Radiguès Afibel Belgium beached Gerry Roufs Groupe LG2 Canada lost at sea 2000-2001 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 of the UK, who at 24 years old had managed to put together a serious campaign with her custom-built boat Kingfisher. Yves Parlier of France, on Aquitaine Innovations, was the first to establish a lead; however, this was soon under attack by Michel Desjoyeaux on PRB, who moved into the lead. Pushing hard to catch up, Parlier was dismasted and lost contact with race organisers. MacArthur diverted to render 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 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 a new carbon-fibre mast from the remains of his broken mast, all without outside assistance. He continued racing, and gained an official place. Michel Desjoyeaux PRB France 93 d 3 h 57' Ellen MacArthur Kingfisher G.B. 94 d 4 h 25' Roland Jourdain Sill Matines La potagère France 96 d 1 h 2' Marc Thiercelin Active Wear France 102 d 20 h 37' Dominic Wavre Union bancaire Privée Switzerland 105 d 2 h 45' Thomas Coville Sodébo France 105 d 7 h 24' Mike Golding Team Group 4 G.B. 110 d 16 h 22' Bernard Gallay Voilà.fr Fra-Switz. 111 d 16 h 7' Josh Hall Gartmore G.B. 111 d 19 h 48' Joé Seeten Chocolats du Monde France 115 d 16 h 46' Patrice Carpentier VM Matériaux France 116 d 00 h 32' Simone Bianchetti Aquarelle.com Italy 121 d 1 h 28' Yves Parlier Aquitaine Innovations France 126 d 23 h 36 Didier Munduteguy DDP/60è Sud France 135 d 15 h 17' Pasquale de Gregorio Wind Telecommunicazioni Italy 158 d 2 h 37' Catherine Chabaud Whirlpool France lost his mast Thierry Dubois Solidaires France electronic problems Raphaël Dinelli Sogal Extenso France damaged rudder Fedor Konioukhov Modern Univ./Humanities Russia retired Javier Sanso Old Spice Spain retired Eric Dumont Euroka Services France damaged rudder Richard Tolkien ? G.B. Rig damage Bernard Stamm Armor-Lux/foies Gras Switzerland steering problem Patrick de Radiguès Libre Belgique Belgium beached 2004-2005 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, 3 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; then Hervé Laurent retired with serious rudder problems. Thomson retired, and Conrad Humphreys anchored to make unassisted rudder repairs. Gear problems and retirements 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. Vincent Riou PRB 87 d 10 h 47'55 Jean Le Cam Bonduelle 87 d 17 h 20'8 Mike Golding Ecover 88 d 15 h 15'13 Dominique Wavre Temenos 92 d 17 h 13'20 Sébastien Josse VMI 93 d 0 h 2'10 Jean-Pierre Dick Virbac-Paprec 98 d 3 h 49'38 Conrad Humphreys Hellomoto 104 d 14 h 32'24 Joé Seeten Arcelor Dunkerque 104 d 23 h 2'45 Bruce Schwab Ocean Planet 109 d 19 h 58'57 Benoît Parnaudeau Max Havelaar / Best Western 116 d 1 h 6'54 Anne Liardet ROXY 119 d 5 h 28'40 Raphaël Dinelli AKENA Vérandas 125 d 4 h 7'14 Karen Leibovici Benefic 126 d 8 h 2'20 Marc Thiercelin Pro-Form retired Roland Jourdain Sill Véolia retired Alex Thomson Hugo Boss retired Patrice Carpentier VM Matériaux retired Nick Moloney Skandia retired Hervé Laurent UUDS retired Norbert Sedlacek Brother retired | ||||||||
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