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Vendée Globe Winners
Winning the Vendée Globe means writing single-handed sailing history. The non-stop solo circumnavigation on IMOCA 60 yachts is the toughest race in offshore sailing – and every winner represents a unique combination of navigation, equipment mastery, sleep management, and mental strength. Since the first edition in 1989, ten races have produced ten champions; Michel Desjoyeaux remains the only double winner, and Charlie Dalin has held the speed record since 2024/25.
What defines a Vendée Globe winner
A Vendée Globe winner is more than the fastest finisher on the leaderboard. They must sail around 24,000 nautical miles alone, survive three cape passages in the Southern Ocean, and carry out every repair without outside help. Winners differ from other single-handed legends above all through the non-stop nature of the race: no harbour, no crew, no break.
The four success factors of modern winners
- Routing excellence: Optimal balance between a southern route and risk in the Screaming Sixties
- Boat management: Keeping foils, sails, and rigging operational for months without shore support
- Sleep discipline: Micro-sleep sessions of 15 to 30 minutes without navigation errors
- Damage resilience: Coping alone with mast failure, collision, or water ingress and continuing to sail
Vendée Globe winners 1989–2025
All Vendée Globe winners at a glance
Since 1989, the Vendée Globe has been held every four years. The following table lists all ten winners chronologically – from the pioneer era to the foiling generation.
Winning times compared: The ten winning times range from 109 days (Lamazou 1989) to 64 days (Dalin 2024). The average is around 87 days – with a clear trend towards faster finishes since foils were introduced from 2020.
Eras of Vendée Globe winners
The ten champions can be divided into three development phases. Each phase set new standards for boat technology, safety, and media reach.
Pioneer era (1989–1997)
Titouan Lamazou, Alain Gautier, and Christophe Auguin sailed early IMOCA generations without foils and with far less media presence than today. Lamazou needed 109 days – almost twice as long as Dalin in 2024. The finish rate was low; whoever won also survived an extreme selection process. Auguin's victory in 1996/97 came in the edition in which Isabelle Autissier became the first woman to start and captivated the public for solo offshore sailing.
Professionalisation (2000–2009)
Michel Desjoyeaux shaped this era like no other. His first victory in 2000/01 on PRB and the historic double triumph in 2008/09 on Foncia made him the reference figure in Figaro and IMOCA single-handed sailing. Vincent Riou won in 2004/05 after a legendary rescue operation – he returned after a collision with Jean Le Cam and claimed victory. Desjoyeaux's methodology – precise preparation, conservative risk-taking, flawless equipment management – is still regarded as the textbook approach.
Foiling era (2012–2025)
François Gabart reduced the winning time to 78 days in 2012/13 and became the youngest champion at 29. Armel Le Cléac'h won in 2016/17 after a gripping final phase against Alex Thomson. Yannick Bestaven won in 2020/21 thanks to a rare jury decision: time credits for helping rescue Kevin Escoffier. Charlie Dalin broke all records in 2024/25 with around 64 days on a foil-equipped IMOCA – a technological leap that is covered in detail in Vendée Globe and IMOCA.
Record holders and special achievements
Not every winner holds a record – but certain names stand for milestones that extend beyond a single race.
French dominance and international winners
All ten Vendée Globe winners come from France. This is no coincidence: French single-handed culture – shaped by Éric Tabarly, the Route du Rhum, and the Solitaire du Figaro – produces the majority of IMOCA professionals worldwide. International skippers such as Ellen MacArthur (second place 2000/01), Alex Thomson (second place 2016/17), or Boris Herrmann (fifth place 2020/21) show that non-French sailors can reach the podium – yet the overall victory remained French until 2025.
Why France produces so many winners
- Career ladder: Mini 650 → Class 40 → Figaro → IMOCA as an established progression path
- Sponsorship ecosystem: Strong industry and media partnerships for multi-million budgets
- Regatta density: Transat Jacques Vabre, Route du Rhum, and Figaro as training grounds
- Cultural roots: Solo offshore as a national sport with broad TV and tracking reach
Women and the path to victory
No woman had won the Vendée Globe by 2025 – yet the development towards the top is clearly visible. Ellen MacArthur finished second in 2000/01 and proved that women sail on equal terms. Clarisse Crémer reached fourth place in 2020/21 – the best women's result to date. Sam Davies, Pip Hare, and Justine Mettraux belong to the next generation making a first female overall victory realistic.
Best women's placings at the Vendée Globe
What aspiring IMOCA skippers can learn from the winners
Champions' careers rarely follow a shortcut. Those who want to win the Vendée Globe typically go through years of qualification via single-handed regattas.
From Figaro skipper to Vendée Globe winner
- Complete Figaro stages and gain tactical solo experience
- Use Class 40 transatlantic races as a springboard to the IMOCA world
- Fulfil IMOCA qualification miles and safety requirements
- Build a first IMOCA project with sponsorship and team infrastructure
- The Ocean Race or Transat as a high-performance test before the Vendée Globe
- Vendée Globe start in Les Sables-d'Olonne
- Victory after non-stop circumnavigation – typical paths for Desjoyeaux, Gabart, and Dalin
Checklist: success patterns of Vendée Globe winners
- Complete several transatlantic stages and Figaro seasons before starting IMOCA projects
- Prepare the boat so that all critical repairs can be done solo on board
- Define routing strategy with the weather team before the start, but react flexibly to low-pressure systems
- Define and stick to a sleep plan with fixed micro-sleep windows – fatigue is the silent opponent
- Know safety equipment (EPIRB, liferaft, AIS-SART) and test it under extreme conditions
- Analyse live tracking and debriefings of previous winners – without blindly copying their risk profile
- Take mental preparation for isolation over 60 to 110 days seriously
- Plan sponsorship and team infrastructure for multi-year projects
Tip: Study the winners' routing decisions via Virtual Regatta and official live tracking. Understanding why Gabart sailed further south in 2012 or why Dalin consistently used foils in 2024 significantly improves your own weather and risk awareness.
Important: Michel Desjoyeaux remains the only double winner – his success formula of preparation, conservative risk-taking, and flawless equipment management is regarded as the reference for all subsequent champions.
Warning: Vendée Globe winners risk their lives under extreme conditions. Imitation without qualified offshore training, suitable equipment, and years of stage-race experience is dangerous. The entry point is through single-handed and short-handed sailing – not by jumping straight onto the Southern Ocean.
Outlook: who could be the next winner?
The foiling generation is making the Vendée Globe faster – and more expensive. For 2028/29, Dalin, Richomme, Beyou, and Herrmann are considered the favourites. Whether another record falls or a woman wins for the first time remains the most exciting open chapter.
Frequently asked questions
Who won most often?
Michel Desjoyeaux – he won twice (2000/01 and 2008/09) and is the only double winner in Vendée Globe history.
Who was fastest?
Charlie Dalin with around 64 days in the 2024/25 edition on a foiling IMOCA – a new speed record.
Has there ever been a German winner?
No. Boris Herrmann finished fifth in 2020/21 as the best German skipper – the overall victory remained French until 2025.
Has a woman ever won?
No. Ellen MacArthur finished second in 2000/01 and proved podium level; Clarisse Crémer reached fourth place in 2020/21 as the best women's result.
When is the next edition?
The Vendée Globe is held every four years – the next edition is expected in 2028/29 with a start in Les Sables-d'Olonne.