The "Vendée Globe Saga" is a Ouest France production.
It seemed like a crazy idea, but they did it! Setting out from Les Sables-d'Olonne, 13 skippers attempted a single-handed, non-stop, unassisted voyage round the world. Seven of them crossed the finish line, with the winner, Titouan Lamazou, completing the race in 109 days.
As a journalist, Philippe Joubin has covered every Vendée Globe since its inception. In "The Vendée Globe Saga", a series of eight podcasts presented by Ouest France and the Département, he tells us in detail about one outstanding event in each edition.
During this second edition, the Vendée Globe saw its first tragic moments, with the death of Mike Plant before the start and the drowning of Nigel Burgess a few days later. As regards the race, Alain Gautier, not yet 30, completed his round-the-world trip well ahead of the others. Philippe Poupon, his heir apparent, lost his mast and was overtaken by Jean-Luc Van Den Heede with 1,000 nautical miles to go.
As a journalist, Philippe Joubin has covered every Vendée Globe since its inception. In "The Vendée Globe Saga", a series of eight podcasts presented by Ouest France and the Département, he tells us in detail about one outstanding event in each edition.
Overshadowed by Gerry Roufs’ tragic death at sea, the third Vendée Globe was dominated by fear. In apocalyptic conditions in the southern seas, the boats capsized one by one, and the competitors threw in the towel. Raphaël Dinelli, standing on his upturned boat for 20 hours, was saved in the nick of time by Britain's Pete Goss; this was the most dramatic image of that edition.
As a journalist, Philippe Joubin has covered every Vendée Globe since its inception. In "The Vendée Globe Saga", a series of eight podcasts presented by Ouest France and the Département, he tells us in detail about one outstanding event in each edition.
Eleven foreigners started out, including a young woman of 24, Ellen MacArthur. The British yachtswoman completed this Vendée Globe in under 100 days, and came second. She is still the only woman to have reached the top three of the Everest of the Seas.
As a journalist, Philippe Joubin has covered every Vendée Globe since its inception. In "The Vendée Globe Saga", a series of eight podcasts presented by Ouest France and the Département, he tells us in detail about one outstanding event in each edition.
"Vincent the terrible" takes on "Roi Jean" ! The two friends, Vincent Riou and Jean Le Cam, battled it out for victory. The skipper of the yacht PRB came out on top with a new record and a lead over Jean Le Cam of under seven hours.
As a journalist, Philippe Joubin has covered every Vendée Globe since its inception. In "The Vendée Globe Saga", a series of eight podcasts presented by Ouest France and the Département, he tells us in detail about one outstanding event in each edition.
"I'm not an adventurer, I'm a competitor", he said in 2000. Michel Desjoyeaux proved this once again by winning a second Vendée Globe after his first victory in 2001. In a truly extraordinary feat, Desjoyeaux won a race he started over 40 hours late, after he had to return to the port of Les Sables to repair his boat just after setting out.
As a journalist, Philippe Joubin has covered every Vendée Globe since its inception. In "The Vendée Globe Saga", a series of eight podcasts presented by Ouest France and the Département, he tells us in detail about one outstanding event in each edition.
François Gabart was the hero of the seventh Vendée Globe, breaking the symbolic 80-day record. He crushed Michel Desjoyeaux's time by completing the race in 78 days. The youngest winner of the Vendée Globe (aged 29), he finished just three hours ahead of Armel Le Cléac'h.
As a journalist, Philippe Joubin has covered every Vendée Globe since its inception. In "The Vendée Globe Saga", a series of eight podcasts presented by Ouest France and the Département, he tells us in detail about one outstanding event in each edition.
The eighth edition was marked by a major technological innovation: foils. Seven of the 29 boats at the start were equipped with these, including that of the winner, Armel Le Cléac'h. This innovation made the race even more impressive, with picture of the boats "flying" over the water.
As a journalist, Philippe Joubin has covered every Vendée Globe since its inception. In "The Vendée Globe Saga", a series of eight podcasts presented by Ouest France and the Département, he tells us in detail about one outstanding event in each edition.
Though Charlie Dalin came in first at Les Sables d'Olonne, Yannick Bestaven finally won the ninth edition thanks to the time bonus awarded to him for his part in Kevin Escoffier's rescue.
Philippe Joubin's Vendée Globe Saga is a Ouest-France production
Find out all the information about the skippers of this 10th edition of the Vendée Globe.
Designed to withstand all weathers and break speed records...
Find out more about the Vendée Globe yachts
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Find out more about the measures taken to ensure skippers' safety.