 |
| Francois Gabart wins the 2012-2013 Vendee Globe |
It took 78 days, 2 hours and 16 minutes for the 29 year old Frenchman Francois Gabart to win the Vendee Globe single-handed, non-stop round-the-world race, now staged every four years.
Gabart was followed by another Frenchman (a Frenchman has won the race every year since it began in 1990) Armel Le Cleac'h and in third place, Britain's Alex Thompson.
A few more facts about the race:
- Since its launch in 1989 only 100 competitors have completed the event
- 20 sailors from five different countries were contesting the 2012-13 edition
- Starts in Les Sables d'Olonne, France and is 27,600 miles long
- The winner gets £150,000
- Britain's Ellen MacArthur was famously second in 2001
A hearty congratulations to all who have finished the race and those who will be finishing in the next days and weeks.
Cheers!
For more coverage, videos and updates follow along at www.vendeeglobe.org.
Laurence
