Three epic performances fill the Vendée Globe podium

Charlie Dalin, Yoann Richomme and Sébastien Simon celebrate as the top three finishers in the Vendée Globe © Jean-Marie Liot / Alea

Earlier this week, on Tuesday morning CET, with the first shades of pink appearing to the east, Charlie Dalin slipped across the finishing line of the 10th Vendée Globe on board his MACIF Santé Prévoyance, completing an epic journey and putting the final touch on a phenomenal sporting achievement.

In setting a new race record, he absolutely shattered the previous mark of 74 days by coming home in just 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds. It was an immaculate performance and worthy of the hero's welcome he received in Les Sables d'Olonne.

Less than 24 hours later, Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) completed his first Vendée Globe, an amazing debut in this solo, around the world classic.

Dalin paid generous tribute to him. "The battle with Yoann was awesome," he said. "He sailed an outstanding race, pushing hard in the South and attacking relentlessly. It's thanks to him that this race was so fast-paced. His constant pressure made every moment of the journey a challenge and this intense rivalry is what allowed us to set these records."

In turn, Richomme was in awe of Dalin's accomplishment: ""I came up against someone stronger than me - Charlie was simply unbeatable. He's been stratospheric in IMOCA for several seasons and it's hard to challenge him. I'm thrilled for him to have a bit of redemption from the past."

In the early hours of Friday morning it was Sébastien Simon on Group Dubreuil who completed the podium, arriving with the new 24 hour solo record, set early in the race, to his name.

These top three finishers have close links to The Ocean Race. Dalin worked with 11th Hour Racing Team, the winner of the 2023 edition of the Race, helping to ease the transition into IMOCA for skipper Charlie Enright and his team. Dalin also raced the transatlantic leg on board with Enright and the 11th Hour Racing squad.

Yoann Richomme raced legs in The Ocean Race with Team Holcim PRB while Seb Simon was with GUYOT Environnment Team Europe. And Simon's record-setting run in the Véndee Globe took place on board the race winning IMOCA from The Ocean Race which he acquired from 11th Hour Racing following the race.

Simon smashed the record for the greatest distance covered solo in 24 hours, setting a new mark at 615.33 miles, which will be hard to beat. Breaking his starboard foil halfway through the race could have compromised his chances of a podium, yet Simon showed extraordinary determination to grab third place.

"The fact that this boat won The Ocean Race and that the 11th Hour Racing team took such good care of her gave me a lot of confidence in her. In any case, this boat has been made reliable and well developed, which makes things easier, and sailing her was a pleasure," Simon said in an interview in the days leading up to the finish.

"I had no intention of going for the IMOCA solo 24-hour record, but the sailing conditions were perfect. I found configurations that were really suited to going fast and safely and obviously having confidence in the boat helps. I'd say that the 24-hour record, with 615 miles and an average speed of 25.7 knots, was the icing on the cake, the pleasant surprise."

With the top three finishers now safely in Les Sables d'Olonne, attention will shift to those further back in the fleet where the competition is close for every position within the top ten. The next arrivals will come thick and fast over the coming week.

"This Vendée Globe has been nothing short of amazing; the speeds, the reliability, and the top sailors who have pushed like never before," said Charlie Enright, the winning skipper of the 2022-23 edition of The Ocean Race and one of the many keen observers glued to the race tracker for the past nine weeks.

"In following this race, I think it's clear The Ocean Race has benefitted from its shift into the IMOCA class, and the top sailors and teams have been fortunate to have had the positive experiences and influence from the competitive culture of The Ocean Race.

"It's been great to watch Charlie Dalin's success, having sailed with him, it comes as no surprise...the same can be said of my great friend Justine Mettraux (currently in 8th place on Teamwork-Team SNEF), no one is more deserving, she always does what's right and I've never seen her get outworked.

"And it hasn't just been the people, watching our old boat has been fun too and I commend Seb Simon on a great performance and for getting so much out of our old ride - the singlehanded, 24-hour, monohull record is an amazing accomplishment, and my guess is that this one will stand for a long while! It's been inspiring to follow and it's hard to watch it coming to an end!"