Les Sables d’Olonne, France (January 25, 2025; Day 77) – It was another busy day at the Vendée Globe finish line with three more finishers completing the race round the world, solo, non-stop, and without assistance:
7th. After 75 days, 16 hours and 47 minutes at sea, Thomas Ruyant (FRA), solo skipper of VULNERABLE, completed his third Vendée Globe. Ruyant started as one of the podium favorites, his TR Racing team stable fielded two boats named VULNERABLE, his own latest generation Koch-Finot Conq design and the Verdier boat sailed by Brit Sam Goodchild. – Full report
8th. Swiss skipper Justine Mettraux completed the course in 76 days, 01 hour, 36 minutes, 52 seconds as the first female to finish and the top international skipper to finish. Showing her tenacity and coolness under pressure, she only just managed to hold off the fast advancing Sam Goodchild after she tore her mainsail during her final night at sea. – Full report
9th. British solo skipper Sam Goodchild realized his long held dream when he crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe, at 1403 hrs UTC. His finished ended a final 36 hours of weather extremes, gales off Cape Finisterre followed by a frustrating period of calm as closed the Vendée coast. The elapsed time for the 35 year old skipper of VULNERABLE is 76j 02h 01min. – Full report
Tomorrow will have the final member of the top ten at the finish line. For ETA updates, click here.
Current Results
1. Charlie Dalin (FRA): 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes, 49 seconds
2. Yoann Richomme (FRA): 65 days, 18 hours, 10 minutes, 2 seconds
3. Sébastien Simon (FRA): 67 days, 12 hours, 25 minutes, 37 seconds
4. Jérémie Beyou (FRA): 74 days, 12 hours, 56 minutes, 54 seconds
5. Paul Meilhat (FRA): 74 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes, 15 seconds
6. Nicolas Lunven (FRA): 75 days, 07 hours, 49 minutes, 41 seconds
Race updates – Tracker – Ranking – Arrival times – Facebook
Attrition:
Nov. 15: Maxime Sorel (FRA), V and B – Monbana – Mayenne, ankle injury, mast damage
Dec. 4: Louis Burton (FRA), Bureau Vallée, rigging failure
Dec. 15: Pip Hare (GBR), Medallia, dismasted
Dec. 16: Szabolcs Weöres (HUN), New Europe, broken D2 shroud
Dec. 30: Yannick Bestaven (FRA), Maître CoQ V, steerage damage
Jan. 12: Éric Bellion (FRA), STAND AS ONE – Altavia, broken J2 forestay pin
The Vendée Globe, raced in the 60-foot IMOCA, is the elite race round the world, solo, non-stop, and without assistance. On November 10, 40 skippers started the 2024-25 edition which begins and ends in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.
Armel Le Cléac’h, winning in 2017, previously held the record for the 24,300 nm course of 74 days 03 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds. Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux in 2001 and 2009. This is tenth running of the race.
Source: https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2025/01/25/another-busy-day-for-vendee-globe/
