Vendée Globe highlights
1989 date of the first Vendée Globe, won by Titouan Lamazou on Écureuil d'Aquitaine in II in 109 d 8 h 47 min 55 s.
45,000 km length of the Vendée Globe course, i.e. 33,000 nautical miles.
18 m length of IMOCA boats (18.288 m or 60 feet)
200 sailors have started the Vendée Globe since its inception in 1989, but only 114 have crossed the finish line.
80 days according to Jules Verne's famous novel, Phileas Fogg set out to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days. In addition to the character from the book, two sailors have successfully completed the Vendée Globe in less than 80 days. In 2012-2013, young François Gabart won the 7th edition in 78 d 2 h 16 min 40 s. Armel le Cléac'h completed the 2016-2017 edition in 74 d 3 h 35 min 46 s.
74 d 3 h 35 min 46 s this is the reference time for the race, set by Armel le Cléac'h in the 8th edition. The record still stands. Although it has been beaten from edition to edition, only Alain Gautier on the second edition of 1992-1993 took longer than the first winner, and Yannick Bestaven, the latest winner to date, did not improve on Armel le Cléac'h's time, with a race time of 80 d 3 h 44 min 46 s.
163 d 03 h et 9 min slowest running time, achieved by Jean-François Coste in 1989-1990
For its first participation in 2020-2021, Clarisse Crémer finished 12th in 87 d 02 h 24 min 25 s. She thus becomes the fastest woman to complete a solo circumnavigation, beating Ellen MacArthur, who finished in 2000-2001 in 94 d 4 h 25 min.
Michel Desjoyeaux is the only two-time winner of the Vendée Globe in 2000-2001 and 2008-2009.
PRB 3 is the only IMOCA to have won the race twice consecutively, the first time in the hands of Michel Desjoyeaux and the second time in the hands of Vincent Riou.
23 years old the age of Violette Dorange, the youngest participant in the 2024 edition. She is the same age as Alan Roura when he set sail on his first Vendée Globe in 2016-2017.
66 years old the age of the oldest participant, Rich Wilson in 2016-2017. For this 2024 edition, Jean Le Cam will have 65 years old .
14 international skippers set sail on the 10th edition, with 11 nationalities represented. Year after year, the round-the-world race becomes more and more international. Only 3 skippers took part in the first edition.
6 : the number of women on the Vendée Globe 2024, equivalent to the record for the 2020-2021 edition.
Youngest winner françois Gabart in 2013 at 29
Oldest winner yannick Bestaven in 2021 at age 49
5 times is the participation record held by Jean Le Cam. He is about to start his 6th Vendée Globe. This record is also held by Alex Thomson.
Record attendance there were 44 entries for the round-the-world race. Only 40 will be lucky enough to take part in the round-the-world race.
Record number of boats finish 25 in 2020-2021 out of the 33 starting boats
The ratio of starters to finishers since the race's inception
1989 - 1990: 13 boats started, 7 finished (54%)
1992-1993: 14 boats started, 7 finished (54%)
1996 - 1997: 15 boats started, 6 finished (40%)
2000 - 2001: 24 boats started, 15 finished (62%)
2004 - 2005: 20 boats started, 13 finished (65%)
2008 - 2009: 30 boats started, 11 finished (37%)
2012 - 2013: 20 boats started, 11 finished (55%)
2016 - 2017: 29 boats started, 18 boats finished (62%)
2020 - 2021: 33 boats departing, 25 boats arriving (76%)
Vendée Globe winners and the evolution of lap times
1st - 1989-1990 - Titouan Lamazou - France - Ecureuil d'Aquitaine II - 109 d 8 h 47 min 55 s
2nd - 1992-1993 - Alain Gautier - France - Bagages Superiors - 110 d 2 h 22 min 35 s
3rd - 1996-1997 - Christophe Auguin - France - Geodis - 105 d 20 h 31 min
4th - 2000-2001 - Michel Desjoyeaux - France - PRB 3 - 93 d 3 h 57 min 32 s
5th - 2004-2005 - Vincent Riou - France - PRB 3 - 87 d 10 h 47 min 55 s
6th - 2008-2009 - Michel Desjoyeaux - France - Foncia - 84 d 3 h 9 min 08 s
7th - 2012-2013 - François Gabart - France - Macif - 78 d 2 h 16 min 40 s
8th - 2016-2017 - Armel le Cléac'h - France - Banque Populaire III - 74 d 3 h 35 min 46 s (record)
9th - 2020-2021 - Yannick Bestaven - France - Maitre Coq IV - 80 d 3 h 44 min 46 s
