The 1989–1990 Vendée Globe Challenge, which later became the first edition of the
Vendée Globe, was a non-stop round the world sailing race, sailed west to east. The start was 26 November 1989 from Les Sables-d'Olonne. Thirteen boats started and seven finished due to multiple abandonments, which is common in this "Everest of the Sea" that is the Vendée Globe. It was won by
Titouan Lamazou
Titouan Lamazou is a French navigator, artist and writer, born on July 11, 1955 in Casablanca, Morocco. He was actually born Antoine Lamazou, he officially took the name Titouan Lamazou in 1986. After a stint at the Fine Arts, he went travelling ...
on 15 March 1990 creating the first benchmark of the event, a record that stood until the 1996–1997 edition.
Background
The inaugural Vendée Globe set off from
Les Sables d'Olonne on 26 November 1989. Frenchman
Titouan Lamazou
Titouan Lamazou is a French navigator, artist and writer, born on July 11, 1955 in Casablanca, Morocco. He was actually born Antoine Lamazou, he officially took the name Titouan Lamazou in 1986. After a stint at the Fine Arts, he went travelling ...
, sailing ''Ecureuil d'Aquitaine II'', won the race with a time of 109 days.
Philippe Jeantot
Philippe Jeantot (born 8 May 1952 in Antananarivo, Madagascar) is a French former deep sea diver, who achieved recognition as a sailor for long-distance, single-handed racing and record-setting. He founded the ''Vendée Globe'', a single-handed, r ...
, Vendée Globe founder, had problems with breakdowns, and then unfavorable winds, which held him back from the race lead.
's
ketch ''
Fleury Michon X'' capsized in the
Southern Ocean; and Poupon was rescued by
Loïck Peyron, who finally finished second, in what was generally a successful first run of the race.
Mike Plant
Mike Plant (November 21, 1950 – 1992) was an American single-handed yachtsman. He competed in the BOC Challenge and the Vendée Globe, a single-handed non-stop race around the world. After five years of single-handed sailing, he logged over 100 ...
, the lone American in the race, disqualified himself after receiving minor assistance near
Campbell Island, New Zealand after a $5 rigging part on his
sloop
A sloop is a sailboat with a single mast typically having only one headsail in front of the mast and one mainsail aft of (behind) the mast. Such an arrangement is called a fore-and-aft rig, and can be rigged as a Bermuda rig with triangular sa ...
, ''Duracell'', was damaged in the
Pacific Ocean. Plant was scored Did not finish, but to the admiring French, he emerged a real hero after repairing the rigging and finishing the course as an unofficial competitor in 135 days, a new American
single-handed circumnavigation record.
[Excerpt from ''Broken Seas'' by Marlin Bree](_blank)
Retrieved 8 October 2013
Race Director for the first edition was Denis Horeau, who went on to run further editions of the race.
Competitors
Profile Pictures
File:Vendée Globe 2016 - Alain Gautier.jpg, ''Generali Concorde''
File:Bust of Bertie Reed, V&A Waterfront.jpg, ''Grinaker''
File:Blank.png, ''O-Kay''
File:Blank.png, ''Pen Duick III''
File:Blank.png, ''UAP''
File:VDH Yann Eliès VG2012.jpg, '' 36.15 MET''
File:Record SNSM 2015 - Loïck Peyron (2).jpg, ''Lada Poch''
File:Blank.png, ''Duracell''
File:Blank.png, ''Le Nouvel Observateur''
File:Blank.png, ''TBS-Charente Maritime''
File:Blank.png, ''Crédit Agricole IV''
File:Philippe Poupon.jpg, '' Fleury Michon X''
File:Titouan Lamazou 2013.jpg, ''Écureuil d'Aquitaine II''
Entries Information
Results
Incidents
*
Philippe Poupon's boat was struck by a wave and ended up lying heeled at 90 degrees.
Loïck Peyron, in a remarkable bit of seamanship, took the boat in tow, and after
Philippe Poupon detached the mast the boat righted itself. A film of the event can be seen here.
*
Jean-Yves Terlain
Jean-Yves Terlain (born November 12, 1944 in Angers), is a French navigator and architect. He is the uncle of the famous sailing brothers Bruno and Loïck Peyron.
He studied naval architecture at the Sorbonne and was the youngest sailor to fin ...
dismasted south of
Cape Town.
*
Guy Bernardin was forced to retire due to a dental problem and made a stopover in Australia
References and publications
External links
Official Vendée Globe WebsiteOfficial Vendée Globe YouTube Channel
{{DEFAULTSORT:1989-1990 Vendee Globe
1989 in sailing
1990 in sailing
Vendée Globe