Loïck Peyron and the crew of the maxi Banque Populaire V grabbed the Jules Verne Trophy last night for establishing a new crewed round the world record. Peyron completed the round the world voyage in 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds, averaging 26.51 knots over a total distance of 29,002 miles. He has therefore set a new outright record around the world, beating by 2 days and 18 hours the record which had been held since 2010 by Franck Cammas and the crew of Groupama 3.

Bruno Retailleau, President of the SAEM Vendée and everyone involved in organising the Vendée Globe wish you every happiness in 2012.

Jérémie Beyou has just been elected Breton sportsman of the year. He has been rewarded both by the Regional Government in Brittany and by the journalists at the daily newspaper Le Télégramme. He received this award for his win this summer in the Solitaire du Figaro and then in the Transat Jacques Vabre this autumn alongside Jean-Pierre Dick.

The Vendée Globe has just launched a competition, which is open to the general public to offer an invitation for two people to attend the start of the Vendée Globe on Saturday 10th November 2012. All you have to do is answer three simple questions about the class of boat taking part in the Vendée Globe, the name of the only skipper to have won the race twice and the town and French department, which host the finish and you could be the lucky winner and experience the excitement of the start.

To enter, click HERE

Bruno Retailleau, President of the Vendée Council and Louis Guédon, MP and Mayor of Les Sables d'Olonne, accompanied by the British sailor Samantha Davies, today revealed the official poster for the 2012-2013 Vendée Globe, which is due to begin on Saturday 10th November 2012.

Madame Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the French Minister of the Environment, Development, Transport and Housing opened the 2011 Paris Boat Show on Friday. The minister took advantage of the opportunity to greet the British sailor Samantha Davies, who confirmed that she will be taking part in the 2012-13 Vendée Globe on the same day.