Vendée Globe
The route of the Vendée Globe race
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| Founded | 1989 |
|---|---|
| Classes | IMOCA 60 |
| Start | Les Sables-d'Olonne |
| Finish | Les Sables-d'Olonne |
| Type | single-handed non-stop round-the-world race |
| Most recent champion(s) |
Banque Populaire VIII Armel Le Cléac'h |
| Most titles | Michel Desjoyeaux (2) |
| Official website | http://www.vendeeglobe.org/en/ |
The Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed (solo) yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race was founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, and since 1992 has taken place every four years. The 2016–2017 race started on Sunday, 6 November 2016.
The Vendée Globe is unique in its requirements for its round-the-world run, e.g., contrasting with the likewise single-handed Velux 5 Oceans Race, which is instead sailed in stages (i.e., in legs, with stopovers). The Vendée Globe is considered by many a test of extreme individual endurance, and as the ultimate in ocean racing.
The race was founded as the "Vendée Globe Challenge" in 1989 by French yachtsman Philippe Jeantot. Jeantot had competed in the BOC Challenge (now the Velux 5 Oceans Race) in 1982–83 and 1986–87, winning both times. Dissatisfied with the race's format, he decided to set up a new round-the-world non-stop race, which he felt would be the ultimate challenge for single-handed sailors.
The first race was run in 1989–90, and was won by Titouan Lamazou; Jeantot himself took part, and placed fourth. The next race was in 1992–93; and it has since then been run every four years.
The race is open to monohull yachts conforming to the Open 60 class criteria. Prior to 2004, the race was also open to Open 50 boats. The Open classes are unrestricted in certain aspects, but a box rule governs parameters such as overall length, draught, appendages and stability, as well as numerous other safety features.
The race starts and finishes in Les Sables-d'Olonne, in the Département of Vendée, in France; both Les Sables d’Olonne and the Vendée Conseil Général are official race sponsors. The course is essentially a circumnavigation along the clipper route: from Les Sables d’Olonne, down the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape of Good Hope; then clockwise around Antarctica, keeping Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn to port; then back to Les Sables d’Olonne. The race generally runs from November to February, and is timed to place the competitors in the Southern Ocean during the austral summer.
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