Scuttlebutt Photos:

Vincent Riou Victorious in Vendée Globe 2004

(February 3, 2005) It was at 22 hours 49 minutes and 55 seconds GMT this Wednesday 2 February 2005 that the 60 foot monohull PRB skippered by Vincent Riou crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe 2004, the single-handed round the world race, without stopovers and without assistance at the start of Les Sables d'Olonne (France). The race time after covering the 23680 miles is 87 days 10 hours 47 minutes and 55 seconds at an average theoretical speed along the course of 11.28 knots (22 km/hr). He thus succeeds Michel Desjoyeaux (PRB) who won the 2000/01 version of the race, beating the previous record by 5 days 17 hours 9 minutes 37 seconds. (Event website)

Photos by Thierry Martinez

WINNER: Vincent Riou

SECOND: Jean Le Cam (FRA) sailing Bonduelle takes second place, finishing at 05h 22m 08secs GMT after 87 days 17 hours 20 minutes 8 seconds, with an average speed of 11.24 knots. He is 6 hours 32 minutes 13 seconds behind Vincent Riou.

THIRD: Ecover skippered by Mike Golding (UK) finishes third, sailing the last 50 miles of the race without his keel. His race time for the 23,680 mile race was 88 days 15 hours and 15 minutes and 13 seconds at an average theoretical speed across the course of 11.13 knots. He is 30 hours 27 minutes 18 seconds behind Vincent Riou.