History of the Vendée Globe

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

The first solo circumnavigation under sail was completed just over 100 years ago when Joshua Slocum set sail on board 'Spray', his 37 foot sloop from Boston Harbour. Three years, and some 46 000 miles later, Slocum dropped anchor in Newport, Rhode Island, having circled the world alone. Slocum stopped ashore when the mood suited, either to explore or to re-supply.

The Golden Globe
In 1966 Sir Francis Chichester took 'Gypsy Moth III' alone around the world from the U.K. stopping just once in Sydney, Australia. His voyage inspired a nation; indeed he was mobbed upon his return, and set the stage for the Golden Globe – the first non-stop round the world yacht race. This 1968 legendary race would see Robin Knox-Johnston return home a hero, having beaten all the odds, and all comers, including the great Bernard Moitessier, who decided to stay South after rounding Cape Horn and continued cruising round to the Pacific. Knox-Johnston went down in history as the man to realise the last great major 'first' in circumnavigations. It took him 313 days to log over 30 000 nautical miles.

Non-stop solo circumnavigation
Numerous races to better the time followed, and indeed, solo circumnavigations in less than half the time became the new standard, however they were all devised to include stop-overs. The Vendée Globe was created in 1989 by French solo skipper Philippe Jeantot, winner of the first two editions of the solo RTW 'BOC Challenge' race, who envisioned the ultimate race that would challenge both man and machine to the limits and beyond - and that meant a non-stop solo circumnavigation against the clock. His home port was in the Vendée region, and so the name was born.

Simple in theory, hard in practice
In theory, the race itself could not be more simple. Competitors start and finish from Les Sables d'Olonne, sailing around the world from West to East, on a route south of the three Capes leaving Antartica – and the odd waypoint to keep the boats from venturing too far South – to starboard. In fact nothing could be harder. Each competitor must battle not only the elements from the searing heat of the tropics to the harsh, mountainous seas of the bleak Southern Ocean, but also the isolation and the mental pressures of being alone thousands of miles from the nearest land.

Titouan Lamazou, winner of the first
Vendée Globe

Seven of thirteen finished first race
The first race saw 13 competitors line up at Les Sables d'Olonne in western France for the start, including Jeantot himself. Only seven of the 13 starters finished the race. Three more made it back to Les Sables d'Olonne but were disqualified for breaching the rules, one competitor capsized, and two others retired. The winner, Titouan Lamazou, on Generali Concorde, finished in 109 days.

Tragedy overshadows second race
For the second Vendée Globe in November 1992, 14 men lined up on the starting line. However, only seven completed the race. Tragedy marred the start of the race as American Mike Plant on Coyote was lost at sea before even reaching Les Sables d'Olonne and his overturned boat was found by a container ship in the North Atlantic. Nigel Burgess' boat was also found off Cape Finisterre barely a month into the race, soon after the skipper had set off his distress beacons, and yet inexplicably, his dead body was discovered in the water floating in his survival suit. Other dramas included the French skipper Bertrand de Broc re-sewing his own tongue back on after incurring a serious facial injury at sea. French skipper Alan Gautier on Bagages Superior was the first back to Les Sables d'Olonne in 110 days.

Less than half the fleet finishes third race
The 1996-97 running of the race only added to the drama and mystique of this extreme chellenge, as less than half the fleet finished in a race where heroes were born and martyrs were made. Tragically, Canadian skipper Gerry Roufs on Groupe LG was lost at sea in the Southern Ocean. Two others were rescued in unimaginable conditions. Britain's Pete Goss was awarded the Legion d' Honneur, France's highest bravery award for turning back into a ferocious storm in his 50ft yacht Aqua Quorum and saving the life of a fellow competitor Raphael Dinelli. A new race record was set by winning French skipper Christophe Auguin on Géodis of 105 days. And Catherine Chabaud became the first woman to finish a Vendée Globe.

Tighter safety restrictions in 2000
In 2000, the Vendée Globe had become even more competitive with 24 skippers on the start line from 7 different nationalities. The tighter safety restrictions and advanced design and technology improved the boats and saw new records being set as winning French skipper Michael Desjoyeux on PRB smashed the 100 day barrier setting a new race record of 93 days. A young 23 year old British girl named Ellen MacArthur dominated the headlines when she finished in second place and became the fastest female to circumnavigate the planet on Kingfisher. Race favourite, Yves Parlier on Aquitaine Innovations broke his mast whilst deep in the Southern Ocean. Undeterred, he anchored south of Stewart Island, NZ and not only repaired but re-stepped his mast single-handedly, and went on to complete the course in 126 days surviving on rations, flying fish and ‘seaweed recipes'. A total of 15 skippers finished the race, the last one reached home 5 months after the start.

Over 25 entrants expected in 2004
Now in 2004, the race is more popular than ever. New safety restrictions and qualification rules designed to improve the boats, and improve the quality of the skippers, haven't dampened enthusiasm one bit. Over 25 entrants are expected on the starting line at Les Sables d'Olonne on 7th November. All of them drawn to the same sea sailed by Slocum, Chichester and Knox-Johnston. All of them wondering if they can measure up to the ultimate challenge of the Vendée Globe.


Source: www.o6t.com
More about the Vendée Globe