Armel Le Cléac'h wins the Vendée Globe in record time
by Vendée Globe on 19 Jan 2017
Armel Le Cléac'h wins the Vendée Globe 2016-17 in record time Jean-Marie Liot / DPPI / Vendée Globe
http://www.vendeeglobe.org
French sailor Armel Le Cléac'h has today won the Vendée Globe, setting a new record for the solo non-stop round the world race in the process.
Le Cléac'h, 39, from Brittany, crossed the finish line of the race in Les Sables d'Olonne, France, at 1537hrs UTC after 74 days, three hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds at sea on his 60ft racing yacht Banque Populaire VIII.
His time sets a new record for the race, beating the previous record of 78 days two hours 16 minutes set by French sailor Francois Gabart in the 2012-13 edition by three days, 22 hours and 41 minutes.
Le Cléac'h, the runner-up in the 2008-09 and 2012-13 editions of the Vendée Globe, covered 24,499.52 nm at an average speed of 13.77 knots during the race, which began from Les Sables d'Olonne on November 6 last year.
The Vendée Globe, which was founded in 1989, follows the 'clipper route' around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, Australia's Cape Leeuwin and South America's Cape Horn.
Second-placed Alex Thomson is expected to cross the finish line on his boat Hugo Boss around 12 hours behind Le Cléac'h.
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