Around the World in Less Than 78 days and two hours?
The 2016 Field
There has never been a Vendee Globe race in which all competing vessels reached the finish line, the maximum so far was 71 of 138. So, most participants will simply be happy to complete the course. Of the serious contenders for the title, nine have a chance to finish under the mark set by Francois Gabart in 2012 who completed the race in 78 days and two hours. Race organizers predict the winner will reach Les Sables d'Olonne once again by January 20, after successfully tackling the ‘Everest of the Seas’, the three capes of Good Hope, Horn and Leeuwin, and the massive 21,638 nautical mile course.
At the halfway point, it’s clear that this year’s Vendee Globe is set for an exciting finish - weather conditions are difficult to predict and the field is tightly grouped.