François Gabart smashes Vendée record as Thomson heads for podium

 

The Vendée Globe record for sailing solo round the world has been well and truly smashed by François Gabart, crossing the finishing line today to become the youngest ever winner in a time of 78 days, 2hrs 16mins 40secs.

The first race in 1989-90 was won by Titouan Lamazou in 109 days 8hrs 48min 50secs and this year the first two will go round the world alone in under 80 days. The previous record, set by Gabart's mentor, Michel Desjoyeaux, in 2008-09, was 84 days 3hrs 9min.

Chasing the 29-year old Gabart home was Armel le Cléac'h 3hrs 17min 12 secs behind behind after a toe to toe battle that has lasted for over 24,000 miles.  A new, younger generation of round the world adventurers is taking over.

And, free from the self-elected job of shepherding the crippled Jean-Pierre Dick, Alex Thomson was pointing the bows of his 60-foot Hugo Boss towards a third-place finish in a Les Sables d'Olonnes packed with Sunday crowds.

Dick has been nursing his boat carefully to the finish after losing his keel and relying on water ballast to keep his Virbac-Paprec upright and making progress. It would mean that up to 12 of the 20 starters in November would finish.

Thomson, too, has been nursing his boat, overcoming the loss of electricity generating capacity and focussing relentlessly on his stated priority of finishing the race. The bonus of a podium place is well-deserved, not least as it will have been achieved in an older generation boat. He is expected to finish Tuesday night.

Life remains hard for the man who once rescued Thomson, Mike Golding. He had been swapping fifth and sixth places with Jean le Cam but saw few opportunities on Sunday to regain fifth and shut down the 70-mile deficit to the canny Frenchman

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Caption competition
Caption competition
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Sport blogs

New day (slowly) rising – As Brasileirão gets underway, Brazilian football stumbles, rather than leaps into the future

The average Serie A crowd last year was 13,000 - comparable to Australia’s A-League.

by James Young

iBet: Mercedes and Hamilton to roar in Monaco

Monaco is a street circuit where driver ability is more important than anywhere else and if we take ...

by Gareth Purnell

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: It sounds sadistic, but the team live for the mountain stages

Three weeks ago as I drove off the Eurostar, I remember thinking what a very long time it was until ...

by Martin Ayres

       
Career Services

Day In a Page

James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again