Philippe Jeantot wished to go further, to give a new dimension to the world of maritime adventure… "Time, he wrote, is a necessary factor to attain perfect harmony with one’s sailboat. We had to forget about stopping.
A round-the-world race, without stopovers or assistance, such were the conditions to reach the desired communion. For the first edition, we set off towards the unknown.
None of the 13 sailors who crossed the starting line in 1989 had the experience of a solo journey exceeding 100 days" *. A round-the-world race, without stopovers or assistance, such were the conditions to reach the desired communion.

In theory, the Vendée Globe is an utterly simple affair. Its fundamental principles come down to a few sentences, compared to which even the roughest logbook would seem sophisticated. A sailing race around the world, for singlehanders, without any stopover. That’s it. In theory at least, because beyond these words start great stories.

Last winners were :
1989-1990 Titouan Lamazou (109 days) ;
1992-1993 Alain Gautier (110 days) ;
1996-1997 Christophe Auguin (105 days) ;
2000-2001 Michel Desjoyeaux (93 days) ;
2004-2005 Vincent Riou (87 days).
2008-2009 Michel Desjoyeaux (84 days).

FAMOUS SOLO RACE AROUND THE WORLD without any stop or any assistance
take place every 4 years from les Sables d'Olonne to les Sables d'Olonne :