Vendée Globe: Records set at Cape Horn

(December 24, 2024; Day 45) – It was yesterday at 23h 27min 20sec (UTC) when Yoann Richomme passed the last of the three major capes of the solo non-stop race around the world, the infamous Cape Horn, in the lead of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe.

And in so doing, the 41 year old French skipper of the IMOCA PAPREC ARKÉA smashes Armel Le Cleac’h’s previous record time set on the 2016-17 Vendée Globe (47d 00h 34min 46s), establishing a new reference time between Les Sables d’Olonne (VG start line) and Cape Horn: 43d 11h 25min 20s. That’s 3d 13h 9min and 26s less than Armel’s record.

Additionally, Richomme establishes a new record from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Horn of 13d 09h 13min 43s.

By passing the longitude of the southernmost tip of South America at 23h 36min 50sec (UTC) in second, Charlie Dalin was just 09min 30s behind. This makes it the closest rounding by leaders in the history of the Vendée Globe (1h20 separated François Gabart from Armel Le Cleac’h in 2012). The MACIF Santé Prévoyance skipper’s elapsed time to Cape Horn is 43d 11h 34min 50s.

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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

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, holds 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: VG2024, SSN