1992/93 Following the first race in 1989, the Vendée
Globe was up and running four years later with much media
coverage. In Les Sables d’olonne, which had rapidly become the
homeland for top single-handed yachtsmen, those who were
keen to enter for a second time became the race
favourites: Alain Gautier, Loïck Peyron, Philippe
“A singlehander’s life brings its share of problems,
Poupon and Jean-Luc Van den Heede. Alongside
tensions, but also emotions and satisfactions, which
them new contenders – Yves Parlier and Bertrand de
cannot be shared, and yet are so beautiful. The Vendée
Broc – were full of passion to face a fine selection
Globe is certainly the race which has taught me the most,
of foreigners, including several veterans from the
about life in general and especially about myself.”
Boc Challenge. Ashore, it became a popular event,
Alain Gautier – 1993 winner, 110 days, 2 hours, 22 minutes
and Philippe Jeantot decided to exchange his
waterproofs for the robes of chief organiser of his
dream event. one American failed to arrive. Mike Plant, back for
a second trip, was lost at sea as he was making his way to Les
Sables d’olonne. The hull of his capsized Coyote was found on
the day the second race started.
The first few miles, fought out in an exceptionally angry Bay
of Biscay, were to show no mercy. More and more entrants were
forced back to the harbour in Vendée, the only stopover allowed
in the rules. Loïck Peyron was unable to take to the seas again,
his monohull was leaking everywhere. Yves Parlier returned with
his mast down, and had to endure ten days’ delay before he
could start out again. But the worst was to happen four days after
the starting gun was fired, when the British sailor nigel Burgess
was found drowned off Cape Finisterre, probably after being
knocked out and thrown overboard.
Despite this litany of disaster, two competitors got into the
swing of things and managed to break away. Alain Gautier and
Bertrand de Broc fought out a close race in the lead as they
raced down the Atlantic. The former, well looked after by his
Bagages Superior – his brand new racer and the first in a long
line of composites signed Finot-Conq – finally took the lead. Later,
De Broc, who had some difficulties in the forties, sewed up his
own tongue, following medical advice that was offered from
a distance by the race doctor. His troubles, however, were far 1996/97 Fifteen entrants plus one pirate, Raphaël Dinelli,
from over, as he had to make for new Zealand and was unable who qualified too late, made up the starting line for the third
d
to continue. His boat’s designers warned him that the keel of Vendée Globe Challenge. Among those were the great favourites,
O
Y
k ll
his “Groupe LG“ (the first Vendée Globe winner) was in serious Christophe Auguin, his Canadian friend Gerry Roufs and the
danger of collapsing: he had to give up, completely demoralised. yachtsman from the Aquitaine region, Yves Parlier, who was at
O
T
;
MAR
ie li
Alain Gautier continued ahead alone. He rounded the Horn the helm of a futuristic 60-footer, the first carbon fibre monohull
MAR
36 hours ahead of Philippe Poupon, who then lost his mast a equipped with a pivoting wing-shaped mast. Two women, A
n
few days from the finish and handed the second place over to Isabelle Autissier and Catherine Chabaud, added a touch of
O
T
; Je
M
e
VDH. only half of these single-handed racers were to complete femininity.
ille
l
OB
G
GU
this harsh and unyielding round the world endurance race Yet again, in november and at the start of the epic journey,
c
endee
MAR
successfully. Gaultier sailed into Les Sables Dolonne to take the the Bay of Biscay was in angry mood. It struck hard and, showing
i
/ V
T
OS:
title after 110 days at sea. no mercy, sorted out the boats very early on. The Hungarian
d
PP
PHO ©
26 YACHTWORLD.COM DeCeMbeR 2008
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