Please select your home edition
Edition
Leaderboard FD July August September 2023

Jérémie Beyou wins the first ever Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne Race

by Ed Gorman 15 Jul 2020 06:55 BST 13 July 2020
Jérémie Beyou on Charal wins the Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne Race © Eloi Stichelbaut - polaRYSE / IMOCA

After one of the most thrilling battles in the history of the IMOCA Class, Jérémie Beyou at the helm of Charal this evening sailed across the finish line to win the hotly-contested Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne Race.

Beyou reached the line after a dramatic final 550-nautical mile final leg from the Gallimard Waypoint, which saw him overtake Charlie Dalin on Apivia who was first at the waypoint, to take what looked like a firm lead.

However this remarkable race - one of the closest, if not the closest in IMOCA history - still had a last twist and turn as Thomas Ruyant on LinkedOut stormed up from behind Dalin to overtake both him and Beyou.

But in the deep reaching and downwind conditions and the powered-up northerly breeze, Beyou managed to press forward again to re-take the lead as he closed the French coast.

By the finish he was well clear of Dalin who finished in second place 50 minutes after Beyou, while Ruyant had to settle for third, another 20 minutes back.

It was fitting that at the end of this "warm-up" for the 2020 Vendée Globe, Beyou should cross the same finish line that will be used for the round-the-world classic in 2021. After he did so he stood on the foredeck of Charal with his hands aloft in celebration.

He had completed the shortened course in 10 days, five hours and 14 minutes, arriving at 20.44 local time. He had sailed a total distance of 3,284.3 nautical miles at an average speed of 13.4 knots. His prize is not just a big confidence boost for the Vendée Globe, but a special timepiece from the official race timekeeper Ulysse Nardin.

By winning this super-competitive fleet race, effectively "round-the-cans to Iceland and back," Beyou has certainly put a marker down for the Vendée Globe, underlining that the combination of his remarkable experience and the optimised foiling set-up on Charal is going to be a potent force on the round-the-world course.

Beyou was never out of the top-five throughout the 10 days at sea. He was in the leading group during the tough upwind phase early in the race, but then took the lead himself when crossing a major depression sitting off the west coast of Ireland.

He then lost out to Dalin in light airs going north towards Iceland before capturing the lead again on the way south when four or five skippers were changing places at the top of the leaderboard. Beyou remained in contention, trailing either Dalin or Ruyant at various times, and was then ready to pounce on the final leg to the finish.

At that point the Vendée-Arctique felt like a Figaro race and Beyou - who has won the Figaro no less than three times - was in his element.

Find out more at www.imoca.org/en/races/imoca-globe-series/vendee-arctique-les-sables-d-olonne

Related Articles

Francesca Clapcich announces research partnership
With Leeds Beckett University along with sponsor 11th Hour Racing Double Olympian and round-the-world sailor, Francesca Clapcich (ITA/USA), has announced a groundbreaking research partnership with the Carnegie School of Sport at Leeds Beckett University in the UK. Posted on 14 Mar
The Ocean Race Europe to make stop in Nice, France
Visiting the Mediterranean coast of France for the first time this summer The Ocean Race Europe, the premiere fully-crewed, offshore sailing race for the foiling IMOCA Class, will visit the Mediterranean coast of France for the first time this summer. Posted on 13 Mar
Antoine Mermod hails a fantastic race
As the epic 10th edition of the Vendée Globe comes to an end The 10th edition of the Vendée Globe will go down as one of the greatest in the race's history, featuring more boats on the startline than ever before, more finishers than ever before, and an emphatic and record-breaking winner. Posted on 11 Mar
Vendée Globe - It's a wrap
Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh is back in Les Sables d'Olonne Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh completes solo non stop round the world passage but finishes outside the 2024 Vendée Globe ranking. Posted on 8 Mar
Vendée Globe 2024 Documentary
An extraordinary event recaptured over 52 minutes There were 40 solo skippers who set off on November 10 in front of a cheering crowd, for a race that will go down in history. Posted on 8 Mar
Boris Herrmann awarded German Offshore Award 2025
The IMOCA "Malizia - Seaexplorer" crowned Best German Offshore Yacht 2025 The IMOCA "Malizia - Seaexplorer" and skipper Boris Herrmann received the award for Best German Offshore Yacht 2025 at the eighteenth German Offshore Award on the evening of 6 March 2025. Posted on 7 Mar
Caroline and Aina winners of Cap pour Elles
On the eve of International Women's Rights Day On the eve of International Women's Rights Day it is the 100% female duo Caroline Boule of France and Aina Bauza of Spain who have been selected for the third edition of Cap pour Elles. Posted on 7 Mar
Fabrice Amedeo finishes 32nd in the Vendée Globe
Only Belgian skipper Denis Van Weynbergh (D'Ieteren Group) is now left racing Former political journalist turned ocean racer Fabrice Amedeo completed his second Vendée Globe today (Tuesday) when he crossed the Les Sables d'Olonne finish line at 14h UTC to take in 32nd place. Posted on 4 Mar
Manuel Cousin finishes 31th in the Vendée Globe
The 57 year old ocean racer completes his second successful Vendée Globe After 111 days and 38 minutes racing since leaving Les Sables d'Olonne on 10th November French skipper Manuel Cousin crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe today at 1240hrs UTC. Posted on 1 Mar
Armel Le Cléac'h: “An epic race with a great win”
Le Cléac'h is a true Vendée Globe legend Armel Le Cléac'h won the 2016 Vendée Globe and held the Vendée Globe record for eight years. That was until Charlie Dalin came along and finally smashed it out the park this time. Posted on 28 Feb