Why are the skippers fighting to be at the start of the Vendée Globe?

In 1989, the Vendée Globe was born, a crazy race around the world, raced single-handed, non-stop and without assistance. A few have tried their hand at it, but few have succeeded in completing this round-the-world race that everyone calls the Everest of the Seas. Here are the figures.

Chloé Torterat Published on October 16, 2024

Who came up with this crazy idea?

On November 26, 1989, 13 skippers lined up for the start of the VendÃ©e Globe. The idea seemed crazyâeuros! A single-handed, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globeâeuros? "How much will it cost?" read the headlines.

This first edition established the legend of what is now known as l'Everest des Mer, with LoÃ¯ck Peyron rescuing Philippe Poupon. Peyron filmed the entire maneuver to right the boat, and the footage went around the world!

Of the 13 starters, only seven completed the race, forging its legend. Edition after edition âeuros that take place every four years âeuros men and women take on the VendÃ©e Globe, hoping if not to win it, at least to finish it.

When Titouan Lamazou completed the first circumnavigation in 109 days, Armel le Cléac'h set a new record in 74 days in 2016.

Les Ã©ditions du VendÃ©e Globe passÃ©es au crible — Vendée Globe editions under the microscope

Only 114 round-the-world toursâeuros!

Few can claim to have completed this round-the-world race. In 9 editions, 200 skippers have started the race, and only 114 have completed it.

1989-1990: 13 skippers started, 7 finished.
1992-1993: 15 skippers at the start, 7 at the finish.
1996-1997: 15 skippers started, 6 finished.
2000-2001: 24 skippers at the start, 15 at the finish.
2004-2005: 20 skippers at the start, 13 at the finish.
2008-2009: 30 skippers at the start, 11 at the finish.
2012-2013: 20 skippers at the start, 11 at the finish.
2016-2017: 29 skippers at the start, 18 at the finish.
2020-2021: 33 skippers start, 25 finish (record number of finishers).

It's often said that more human beings have been to space or climbed Everest than have completed the VendÃ©e Globe. In 2024, more than 650 people will have explored our skies and 6,500 will have reached the summit of the worldâ??s highest mountain!

A single double winner

While some have only taken part once, and won their first âeuros like FranÃ§ois Gabart in 2012/2013, others have done so twice. Indeed, Michel Desjoyeaux has won each of his participations, the first in 2000/2001 and the 2nd in 2008/2009.

Of the 200 skippers who have taken part in the Vendée Globe, some have only done it once or will be doing it for the first time in 2024, while others, like Jean Le Cam and Arnaud Boissières, are always coming back.

1 entry: 77 skippers took part just once.
2 entries: 29 skippers took part twice.
3 entries: 12 skippers took part three times.
4 participations: 8 skippers took part four times.
5 entries: 3 skippers took part five times.
6 participations: Jean Le Cam is the only skipper to have taken part six times (until 2020).

Start and finish times for each edition

1989/1990: 13 skippers started / 7 skippers finished, 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) / 25 skippers at the finish, i.e. 76% of the fleet

The 1996/1997 and 2008/2009 editions were the two with the most withdrawals. The best edition in terms of arrivals was the 2020 edition.

The number of international skippers

The Vendée Globe is not just a race for French sailors, as it attracts skippers of many different nationalities every year. The proportion of foreign skippers in the Vendée Globe has varied over the years, but has shown an upward trend, particularly in recent editions.

1989-1990: 2 foreign skippers.
1992-1993: 5 foreign skippers.
1996-1997: 5 foreign skippers.
2000-2001: 11 foreign skippers (33%).
2004-2005: 7 foreign skippers (40%).
2008-2009: 13 foreign skippers (33%).
2012-2013: 7 foreign skippers (45%).
2016-2017: 10 foreign skippers (34%).
2020-2021: 11 foreign skippers (36%).
2024-2025: 16 foreign skippers out of 40, i.e. around 36%. These skippers represent 11 different nationalities, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Hungary, Japan, China, the United States and New Zealandâeuros

On average, the proportion of foreign skippers in recent editions of the Vendée Globe has been around 30-40%, with a growing diversity of nationalities. This trend reflects the progressive internationalization of the race.

Women's participation in the Vendée Globe

Of the nine editions of the Vendée Globe, three have been raced without a single woman taking the start: the first two editions, as well as the 2016 edition. There have never been more than two women on the previous editions, with the exception of the last edition in 2020/2021, when there were 6, and there will be the same number for this 2024 edition.

Women's participation in the Vendée Globe :

Total number of participants (from 1989 to 2020): 202 skippers.
Women participants: 15 women have already taken the start of the Vendée Globe in all 9 editions. There will be 21 after the 2024 edition.

1989-1990: 13 participants, 0 women
1992-1993: 15 participants, 0 women
1996-1997: 15 participants, 2 women (Isabelle Autissier and Catherine Chabaud)
2000-2001: 24 participants, 2 women (Ellen MacArthur and Catherine Chabaud)
2004-2005: 20 participants, 2 women (Karen Leibovici and Anne Liardet)
2008-2009: 30 participants, 2 women (Samantha Davies and Dee Caffari)
2012-2013: 20 participants, 1 woman (Samantha Davies)
2016-2017: 29 participants, 0 women
2020-2021: 33 participants, 6 women (Samantha Davies, Clarisse Crémer, Pip Hare, Isabelle Joschke, Miranda Merron, Alexia Barrier).
2024-2025: 40 participants expected, 6 women (Clarisse CrÃ©mer, Samantha Davies, Pip Hare, Isabelle Joschke, Justine Mettraux, Violette Dorange)âeuros

List of women who have completed the Vendée Globe :

Catherine Chabaud (France) âeuros 1996-1997. She was the first woman to complete the VendÃ©e Globe, finishing 6th, last of the 15 participants in the race, the others having retired.
Ellen MacArthur (United Kingdom) âeuros 2000-2001. She finished in 2nd place, an exceptional feat at just 24 years of age.
Anne Liardet (France) âeuros 2004-2005. She finished in 11th place in her only participation.
Samantha Davies (United Kingdom) âeuros 2008-2009. She finished 4th in this edition, making her mark with her determination and performance.
Miranda Merron (United Kingdom) âeuros 2020-2021. She finished the race in 22nd place.
Clarisse CrÃ©mer (France) âeuros 2020-2021. She finished 12th, achieving the best womenâ??s performance since Ellen MacArthur.
Pip Hare (United Kingdom) âeuros 2020-2021. She finished 19th, becoming one of the outstanding figures of this edition.