François Gabart

François Gabart breaks all records at the Vendée Globe

By No author
30/01/2013

On Sunday 27 January at precisely 14h18, the 29 years old French sailor, François Gabart, won the Vendée Globe solo around-the-globe yatch race. By completing the journey in 78 days 2 hours 16 minutes and 40 seconds, he breaks both the speed and age records.

François Gabart vainqueur du Vendée Globe par lemondefr

François Gabart

The French sailor became the youngest winner of the race and beat the record set by Michel Desjoyeaux winner in 2009 (84 days 3 hours and 9 minutes). Impressive enought, it was the first time François Gabart was competing in this race. 

Launched in 1989 and held every four years, this single-handed, non-stop round-the-world race started on 10 November in Les Sables d’Olonne (France) and is 27, 600 miles long. The winner of this competition, bringing together 20 sailors from five different countries, receives £150,000.

François Gabart had been leading the race for a long time and fought shoulder to shoulder with Armel Le Cléac'h, who finished second, three hours after Gabart.

The English man Alex Thomson is expected to arrive on Wednesday and be third on the podium. If all goes well, Thomson will be the third British sailor to win a podium at the Vendée Globe after Ellen MacArthur, who was second in 2001 and Mike Golding, who was third in 2004.

Alex Tomson