But whose idea was this folle??
On 26th November 1989, 13 skippers lined up on the start line for the Vendée Globe. The idea was published on folle?! A round-the-world sailing race, single-handed, non-stop and without assistance?? "How many are going to revenir??" headlines the newspapers.
This first edition will create the legend of what is now known as the Everest of the Seas with the rescue of Philippe Poupon by Loïck Peyron. Peyron filmed the entire righting manoeuvre of the boat and the images go all the way round monde?!
Of the 13 starters, only seven of them complete the loop and thus forge the legend of the race. Edition after edition - which takes place every four years - men and women take on the Vendée Globe, hoping if not to win it, at least to finish it.
When Titouan Lamazou completed the first circumnavigation of the world in 109 days, the latest winner to date, Armel le Cléac'h set a new record in 74 days. For the next edition 2020/2021, Alex Thomson hopes to win it with a 67-day loop!
Only 90 world tours bouclés?!
Few of them can boast of having completed this round-the-world trip. In 9 editions, 116 skippers have started the race and only 67 have finished it. And in total, since the creation of the race 31 years ago, the race has registered 198 participations, for only 90 round-the-world races bouclés?!
It is often said that there are more human beings who have been in space or climbed Everest than have finished the Vendée Globe. In 2018, more than 500 people explored our skies and 807 reached the top of the largest mountain on monde?!
Only one double winner
While some have only participated once and won directly - like Titouan Lamazou in the first edition or François Gabart in 2012/2013 - others have enjoyed it twice. Indeed, Michel Desjoyeaux has won each of his entries, the first time in 2000/2001 and the second time in 2008/2009.
Out of the 116 skippers who took part in the Vendée Globe, some have only taken part once or will be taking part for the first time in 2020, while others are constantly coming back, like Jean Le Cam or Alex Thomson, who have each taken part five times.
- 1 participation: 68 skippers
- 2 entries: 27 skippers
- 3 entries: 10 skippers
- 4 entries: 9 skippers
- 5 entries: 2 skippers
The departures and arrivals of each edition
1989/1990: 13 skippers at the start / 7 skippers at the finish, i.e. 54% of the fleet
1992/1993: 14 skippers at the start / 7 skippers at the finish, i.e. 50% of the fleet
1996/1997: 16 skippers at the start (including 2 women) / 6 skippers at the finish, i.e. 40% of the fleet
2000/2001: 24 skippers at the start (including 2 women) / 15 skippers at the finish, i.e. 62.5% of the fleet
2004/2005: 20 skippers at the start (including 2 women) / 13 skippers at the finish, i.e. 65% of the fleet
2008/2009: 30 skippers at the start (including 2 women) / 12 skippers at the finish, i.e. 40% of the fleet
2012/2013: 20 skippers at the start (including 1 woman) / 11 skippers at the finish, i.e. 55% of the fleet
2016/2017: 29 skippers at the start / 18 skippers at the finish, i.e. 62% of the fleet.
2020/2021 : 33 skippers at the start (including 6 women) /
The 1996/1997 and 2008/2009 editions were the two editions with the most dropouts. While the best edition in terms of arrivals was the 2000/2001 edition.
The number of international skippers
The Vendée Globe is not just a race for French people, as every year it attracts skippers of various nationalities: British, American, Swiss, Spanish, Italian, German and even Japanese! Out of the 9 editions combined, 69 Frenchmen have taken (or will soon take) the start of the race against 49 international skippers.
The number of women
Out of the nine editions of the Vendée Globe, three have been raced without any women taking the start, the first two editions but also the last one. Never more than two on the previous editions, they will be on this 2020 edition, 6 women sailors! A record!
In total, over all the editions, 12 women (2) for 104 men (1) have participated (or will participate) in the round-the-world race.
