There have already been five editions of the non-stop single-handed round the world race without assistance, and the exceptional nature of the figures can send your mind reeling! While the statistics give us a general picture of the Vendée Globe, we also obtain a portrait of the typical winner…
The age of the captain:
The youngest entrant: Ellen MacArthur in 2000 - 2001 :she was 24
The oldest: Jose de Ugarte in 1992-1993:he was 62
The youngest winner of the Vendée Globe: Alain Gautier in 1993, who was 30
The oldest winner: Christophe Auguin at the age of 37
Those returning:
Marc Thiercelin: 4th Vendée Globe including being ranked twice (2nd in 1996-1997 and 4th in 2001-2001.
Raphaël Dinelli: 4th Vendée Globe including one unofficial entry (1996-1997) and was ranked once (2004-2005).
The gaps between the winner and runner-up:
1990 : Titouan Lamazou 16h30 ahead of Loïck Peyron
1993 : Alain Gautier 6 days12h40 ahead of Jean-Luc Van Den Heede
1997 : Christophe Auguin 7 days 11h50 ahead of Marc Thiercelin
2001 : Michel Desjoyeaux 1 day 00h50 ahead of Ellen Mac Arthur
2005 : Vincent Riou 6h30 ahead of Jean Le Cam
The best speeds: The best days run achieved in each Vendée Globe (Record for the number of miles covered in 24h)
In 1989, Titouan Lamazou with 304 miles.
In 1992, Alain Gautier with 339 miles
In 1996, Yves Parlier with 374 miles
In 2000, Dominique Wavre with 430 miles
In 2004, Roland Jourdain with 439 miles
N.B.:the 24h distance record aboard a 60’ open IMOCA is currently held by Alex Thomson, for solo sailing and two-handed sailing (with Andrew Cape) :
Solo: 468.72 miles / 24h, or an average of 19.53 knots (2003)
Two-handed: 501.9 miles / 24h, or an average of 20.91 knots (2007)
From the shortest to the longest:
He spent the shortest time at sea: Patrick de Radigues in 2000, ran aground on the Portuguese coast after four days of sailing.
He spent the longest time at sea: Jean-François Coste in 1989-1990, who completed his Vendée Globe in 163 days, 01 hour and 19 minutes on the ketch « Cacharel » better known as Pen Duick III.
The percentage of success: the number of competitors completing the race
In 1989 – 1990 : 7 competitors at the finish out of 13 at the start, or 54% of the fleet.
In 1992 – 1993 : 7 competitors at the finish out of 15 at the start, or 46.7% of the fleet.
In 1996 – 1997 : 6 competitors at the finish out of 16 at the start, or 37.5% of the fleet.
In 2000 - 2001: 17 competitors at the finish out of 26 at the start, or 65.4% of the fleet.
In 2004 – 2005 : 13 competitors at the finish out of 20 at the start, or 65% of the fleet.
The number of entrants:
Taking into account that a few competitors have taken part several times, the number of skippers , who have taken part in the Vendée Globe is 64.
Experience: The record in terms of the total experience of the skippers in the Vendée Globe: 2008, the 30 skippers total 32 round the world voyages and 21 Vendée Globe races
Sleep: the average length of sleep over 24 hours during the three months of racing: 5 hours
Best woman entrants
In 1989 – 1990 : 0 women
In 1992 – 1993 : 0 women
In 1996 – 1997 : 2 women, Catherine Chabaud (ranked 6th and Isabelle Autissier, finished out of the race after stopping.
In 2000 -2001 : 2 women, EllIen MacArthur ranked 2nd, (Best position for a woman in the Vendée Globe until now), Catherine Chabaud, retired
In 2004 – 2005 : 2, Anne Liardet ranked 11th, and Karen Leibovici, 13th
In 2008 – 2009 : 2 women at the start, Dee Caffari and Samantha Davies
Foreigners: The number of foreign competitors at the start
In 1989 : 3 competitors out of 13, or 23%, 4 nationalities at the start
In 1992 : 7 competitors out of 15, or 47%, 6 nationalities at the start
In 1996 : 5 competitors out of 16, or 31%, 5 nationalities at the start
In 2000 : 11 competitors out of 26, or 42%, 7 nationalities at the start
In 2004 : 7 competitors out of 20, or 35%, 5 nationalities at the start
In 2008 : 13 competitors out of 30, or 43%, 7 nationalities at the start
Distance and speed: the distance actually covered and the real speed for each of the winners
Titouan Lamazou : 25,485 miles at 9.7 knots
Alain Gautier : 25,315 miles at 9.58 knots
Christophe Auguin : 26,520 miles at 10.44 knots
Michel Desjoyeaux : 26,700 miles at 11.94 knots
Vincent Riou : 26,714 miles at 12.73 knots
Intermediate speed records around the world:
From Les Sables d’Olonne to the Equator: Jean Le Cam in 10 d, 11h, 28’
From Les Sables d’Olonne to the Cape of Good Hope: Vincent Riou in 24 d, 02 h, 18’
From Les Sables d’Olonne to Cape Leeuwin: Vincent Riou in 36 d, 12 h, 48’
From Les Sables d’Olonne to Cape Horn: Jean Le Cam in 56 d, 17 h, 13’
From Les Sables d’Olonne to the Equator: Vincent Riou in 72 d, 13 h, 58’
From Les Sables d’Olonne to Les Sables d’Olonne: Vincent Riou in 87 d, 10 hours, 47 minutes and 55’ (11.28 knots average speed).
The records to beat crossing the three oceans:
Voyage down the Atlantic (Les Sables / Cape of Good Hope) : PRB in 24 d, 7 h 20´ at an average speed of 11.7 knots. Please note that Bonduelle (Jean Le Cam)´s average speed was very similar (11.6 knots)
Crossing the Indian Ocean (Cape of Good Hope / Cape Leeuwin) : Ecover in 14 d, 21h 30´ at an average of 13.7 knots. Ahead of VMI (Sébastien Josse)
Crossing the Pacific Ocean (Cape Leeuwin / Cape Horn) : Ecover in 16 d, 6h at an average of 12.8 knots.
Climb back up the Atlantic (Cape Horn / Les Sables) : PRB in 30 d, 1h 40’ at an average of 9.7 knots
Portrait of the potential winner:
He has an average age of 34, has children in every case, is a former winner of the Figaro single-handed event in 60% of the cases. This is his first Vendée Globe (80%) and he is racing on a boat designed by the Finot team (80%).
The youngest entrant: Ellen MacArthur in 2000 - 2001 :she was 24
The oldest: Jose de Ugarte in 1992-1993:he was 62
The youngest winner of the Vendée Globe: Alain Gautier in 1993, who was 30
The oldest winner: Christophe Auguin at the age of 37
Those returning:
Marc Thiercelin: 4th Vendée Globe including being ranked twice (2nd in 1996-1997 and 4th in 2001-2001.
Raphaël Dinelli: 4th Vendée Globe including one unofficial entry (1996-1997) and was ranked once (2004-2005).
The gaps between the winner and runner-up:
1990 : Titouan Lamazou 16h30 ahead of Loïck Peyron
1993 : Alain Gautier 6 days12h40 ahead of Jean-Luc Van Den Heede
1997 : Christophe Auguin 7 days 11h50 ahead of Marc Thiercelin
2001 : Michel Desjoyeaux 1 day 00h50 ahead of Ellen Mac Arthur
2005 : Vincent Riou 6h30 ahead of Jean Le Cam
The best speeds: The best days run achieved in each Vendée Globe (Record for the number of miles covered in 24h)
In 1989, Titouan Lamazou with 304 miles.
In 1992, Alain Gautier with 339 miles
In 1996, Yves Parlier with 374 miles
In 2000, Dominique Wavre with 430 miles
In 2004, Roland Jourdain with 439 miles
N.B.:the 24h distance record aboard a 60’ open IMOCA is currently held by Alex Thomson, for solo sailing and two-handed sailing (with Andrew Cape) :
Solo: 468.72 miles / 24h, or an average of 19.53 knots (2003)
Two-handed: 501.9 miles / 24h, or an average of 20.91 knots (2007)
From the shortest to the longest:
He spent the shortest time at sea: Patrick de Radigues in 2000, ran aground on the Portuguese coast after four days of sailing.
He spent the longest time at sea: Jean-François Coste in 1989-1990, who completed his Vendée Globe in 163 days, 01 hour and 19 minutes on the ketch « Cacharel » better known as Pen Duick III.
The percentage of success: the number of competitors completing the race
In 1989 – 1990 : 7 competitors at the finish out of 13 at the start, or 54% of the fleet.
In 1992 – 1993 : 7 competitors at the finish out of 15 at the start, or 46.7% of the fleet.
In 1996 – 1997 : 6 competitors at the finish out of 16 at the start, or 37.5% of the fleet.
In 2000 - 2001: 17 competitors at the finish out of 26 at the start, or 65.4% of the fleet.
In 2004 – 2005 : 13 competitors at the finish out of 20 at the start, or 65% of the fleet.
The number of entrants:
Taking into account that a few competitors have taken part several times, the number of skippers , who have taken part in the Vendée Globe is 64.
Experience: The record in terms of the total experience of the skippers in the Vendée Globe: 2008, the 30 skippers total 32 round the world voyages and 21 Vendée Globe races
Sleep: the average length of sleep over 24 hours during the three months of racing: 5 hours
Best woman entrants
In 1989 – 1990 : 0 women
In 1992 – 1993 : 0 women
In 1996 – 1997 : 2 women, Catherine Chabaud (ranked 6th and Isabelle Autissier, finished out of the race after stopping.
In 2000 -2001 : 2 women, EllIen MacArthur ranked 2nd, (Best position for a woman in the Vendée Globe until now), Catherine Chabaud, retired
In 2004 – 2005 : 2, Anne Liardet ranked 11th, and Karen Leibovici, 13th
In 2008 – 2009 : 2 women at the start, Dee Caffari and Samantha Davies
Foreigners: The number of foreign competitors at the start
In 1989 : 3 competitors out of 13, or 23%, 4 nationalities at the start
In 1992 : 7 competitors out of 15, or 47%, 6 nationalities at the start
In 1996 : 5 competitors out of 16, or 31%, 5 nationalities at the start
In 2000 : 11 competitors out of 26, or 42%, 7 nationalities at the start
In 2004 : 7 competitors out of 20, or 35%, 5 nationalities at the start
In 2008 : 13 competitors out of 30, or 43%, 7 nationalities at the start
Distance and speed: the distance actually covered and the real speed for each of the winners
Titouan Lamazou : 25,485 miles at 9.7 knots
Alain Gautier : 25,315 miles at 9.58 knots
Christophe Auguin : 26,520 miles at 10.44 knots
Michel Desjoyeaux : 26,700 miles at 11.94 knots
Vincent Riou : 26,714 miles at 12.73 knots
Intermediate speed records around the world:
From Les Sables d’Olonne to the Equator: Jean Le Cam in 10 d, 11h, 28’
From Les Sables d’Olonne to the Cape of Good Hope: Vincent Riou in 24 d, 02 h, 18’
From Les Sables d’Olonne to Cape Leeuwin: Vincent Riou in 36 d, 12 h, 48’
From Les Sables d’Olonne to Cape Horn: Jean Le Cam in 56 d, 17 h, 13’
From Les Sables d’Olonne to the Equator: Vincent Riou in 72 d, 13 h, 58’
From Les Sables d’Olonne to Les Sables d’Olonne: Vincent Riou in 87 d, 10 hours, 47 minutes and 55’ (11.28 knots average speed).
The records to beat crossing the three oceans:
Voyage down the Atlantic (Les Sables / Cape of Good Hope) : PRB in 24 d, 7 h 20´ at an average speed of 11.7 knots. Please note that Bonduelle (Jean Le Cam)´s average speed was very similar (11.6 knots)
Crossing the Indian Ocean (Cape of Good Hope / Cape Leeuwin) : Ecover in 14 d, 21h 30´ at an average of 13.7 knots. Ahead of VMI (Sébastien Josse)
Crossing the Pacific Ocean (Cape Leeuwin / Cape Horn) : Ecover in 16 d, 6h at an average of 12.8 knots.
Climb back up the Atlantic (Cape Horn / Les Sables) : PRB in 30 d, 1h 40’ at an average of 9.7 knots
Portrait of the potential winner:
He has an average age of 34, has children in every case, is a former winner of the Figaro single-handed event in 60% of the cases. This is his first Vendée Globe (80%) and he is racing on a boat designed by the Finot team (80%).
