When French sailor Armel Le Cleac'h won the 24,500 Vendée Globe race his nemesis Alex Thomson was 38 nautical miles behind: a margin of difference of 1/10 of 1%!
It was one of the most thrilling finishes the solo round the world race has ever seen. It had been 74 days of round-the-buoys racing intensity when Le Cléac'h was finally crowned victor in the long-running battle with British skipper Alex Thomson for the top spot in the solo round the world race, regarded as one of the toughest sporting challenges known to man.
News - Le Cléac'h smashes Vendée Globe race record in spectacular style - Vendée Globe 2016-2017
Le Cléac'h, 39, from Brittany, sealed the win – and a place in the Vendée Globe history books – crossing the finish line at 1537 UTC to complete the course in 74 days, three hours and 35 minutes. His time sets a new record for the race, beating the previous record of 78 days 2 hours 16 minutes set by French sailor François Gabart in the 2012-13 edition by three days, 22 hours and 41 minutes.
Meanwhile toward the back of the fleet on day 70 Rich Wilson aboard Great American IV has rounded Cape Horn. He has 6,300 nm to go. This is his LOG of the Cape Horn rounding.
News - Le Cléac'h smashes Vendée Globe race record in spectacular style - Vendée Globe 2016-2017
Le Cléac'h, 39, from Brittany, sealed the win – and a place in the Vendée Globe history books – crossing the finish line at 1537 UTC to complete the course in 74 days, three hours and 35 minutes. His time sets a new record for the race, beating the previous record of 78 days 2 hours 16 minutes set by French sailor François Gabart in the 2012-13 edition by three days, 22 hours and 41 minutes.
Meanwhile toward the back of the fleet on day 70 Rich Wilson aboard Great American IV has rounded Cape Horn. He has 6,300 nm to go. This is his LOG of the Cape Horn rounding.
