I
n theory, the Vendée Globe is a simple affair: a “Time is a necessary factor to attain perfect harmony with one’s
single-handed, nonstop race around the world. sailboat. We had to forget about stopping. A round-the-world race,
That’s it. In theory at least, because beyond without stopovers or assistance, such were the conditions to reach
these few words sailors embark on one of the desired communion. For the first edition, we set off towards the
the toughest adventures in the maritime calendar, unknown. None of the thirteen sailors who crossed the starting line
renowned as the “Everest” of the sport of sailing. in 1989 had the experience of a solo journey exceeding 100 days.”
The race is considered the hardest single-handed
Phillipe Jeantot – 1989 Vendée Globe
regatta in the world. Held every four years from the
port of Les Sables d’olonne in the Vendée
region on the western coast of France,
this circumnavigation solo marathon
has attracted the most competitive and
hardened sailors from around the world.
The participants have to cover 27,000
nautical miles (around 50,000 kilometres)
around the globe without using the
assistance of others or stepping foot on
land. The Vendée Globe demands absolute
physical fitness, mental concentration and
incredible stamina from the participants,
for around three to four months at sea.
Since 1989 this race has challenged
and impressed the world of yachting. It
was the creation of Philippe Jeantot, a
Frenchman whose sailing exploits have
turned him into a national hero. With his
tenacity and spirit he achieved recognition
as a sailor for long-distance, single-handed
racing and record-setting. He started his
career as a deep sea diver, working on
oil rigs; at one time he jointly held the
record for deep diving, at 501 metres.
He became interested in sailing after
reading Bernard Moitessier’s book The
Long Way; having learned to sail, he built
himself a 13.5-metre steel ketch, planning
to sail single-handed around the world.
After cruising for two years, he entered
the first edition of the BIC Challenge in
1982; he won the race, and broke the
previous record for a single-handed
circumnavigation with a time of 159 days,
2 hours.
Jeantot founded this single-handed,
non-stop, 26,000-mile round-the-world
race, and in november 1989, the inagural
event departed from Les Sables D’olonne,
24 YACHTWORLD.COM DeCeMbeR 2008
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