New Vendée Globe Ocean Race Legends

Throughout seven editions in twenty-four years, the Vendée Glob’s history has developed and contributed to make the race a unique one. With its many twists and turns, the 2012-2013 has been no exception to the rule.

© Jean-Marie Liot / DPPI

The most frequent answer to the question « What is the highlight of this seventh edition of the Vendée Globe ? » is the fight between François Gabart and Armel Le Cléac’h. The MACIF and Banque Populaire skippers fought hard for the final victory throughout the race, respectively leading fifteen and sixteen times. Gabart may have been the one winning, both sailors will be equally remembered by the public.

Yet François Gabart’s many performances were particularly striking: A new Cape Leeuwin record ion 34 days, 10 hours and 23 minutes, A new 24-hour record (with 534.48 miles covered), the title of youngest winner in the history of the race and, of course, the performance of being the fastest skipper to single-handedly sail around the world non-stop and without assistance and the first to do so in less than 80 days.

But beyond those sailing performances, various types of adventures also left their marks on this seventh Vendée Globe from the two senior sailors Dominique Wavre and Mike Golding, with four Vendée Globe editions under their belts – including three finishes – to good mood dealers Alessandro Di Benedetto and Tanguy de Lamotte. And let’s not forget Jean-Pierre Dick’s journey, which took the French Virbac Paprec 3 skipper to the fourth place even though he had to sail 2,650 miles without his keel.

Tough blows and happy ends

The Vendée Globe would not have received the nickname of « Everest of the Seas » without its share of unfortunate adventures. With seven skippers pulling out of the race in ten days at the beginning of the race, this edition has been one of the most terrible beginnings the race had ever had. Yet twelve sailors finished the race and made it to Les Sables d’Olonne (eleven were officially ranked while Bernard Stamm was not), meaning 55% of the starting skippers actually completed the race, which is the third best percentage since the creation of the Vendée Globe (62.5% in 2001, 65% in 2005).

Javier Sansó’s capsising and Bernard Stamm’s abandon and disqualification doubtlessly left their marks as well. Yet the former’s rescue and the latter’s perseverance – Stamm eventually finished his third Vendée Globe – brought happy ends to those initially dramatic stories. Just like the Swiss skipper, Bertrand de Broc and Alex Thomson had the satisfaction of finally finishing the Vendée globe after two unsuccessful attempts. It the process, they proved third time is indeed a charm, sending a message of hope to Jérémie Beyou and Kito de Pavant.