Violette Dorange Becomes Youngest Sailor To Finish Vendée Globe At 23

French sailor Violette Dorange made history by becoming the youngest person ever to complete the Vendée Globe, the famous solo round-the-world yacht race. At 23 years old, she secured 25th place, finishing in 90 days, 22 hours, and 37 minutes.

Her achievement surpasses the previous record set by Swiss skipper Alan Roura, who finished the 2016-17 Vendée Globe in 105 days, just six days before turning 24.

Dorange’s accomplishment places her among the most promising ocean racers of her generation. She was greeted by a massive crowd at Les Sables d’Olonne, where hundreds of thousands of supporters celebrated her arrival.

She has been passionate about sailing since childhood. At 15, she made headlines by navigating the English Channel and the Straits of Gibraltar in an Optimist dinghy, a small boat designed for young sailors. She went on to win multiple youth world championship medals in the 420 class before transitioning to offshore racing.

Her experience includes completing the Mini Transat at 18, a challenging solo Atlantic crossing. She then spent three years competing in the Figaro class, where she secured a Top 10 overall finish in 2022.

She also participated in two double-handed transatlantic races, finishing eighth in the Transat Paprec alongside Basile Bourgnon in 2022 and racing with Alan Roberts in the Transet en Double Concarneau.

The legendary French sailor Jean Le Cam mentored her, providing her with an IMOCA-class yacht that had already completed five Vendée Globe races.

The boat was originally designed by Farr and first used by Michel Desjoyeaux when he won the 2008 race under the name Foncia.

Throughout the race, Dorange showed a perfect balance between aggressive racing and cautious strategy, choosing safety over speed when necessary.

Before reaching Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn, she slowed down to protect her boat, a decision she described as difficult but necessary to ensure she could finish the race. She made this choice alongside experienced skippers Arnaud Boissieres and Eric Bellion.

Violette, émue et émerveillée, découvre avec joie la foule venue l’accueillir sur le chenal des Sables d’Olonne ! pic.twitter.com/yOYAO9Pzoa

— Vendée Globe (@VendeeGlobe) February 9, 2025

However, technical challenges tested her resilience. She spent seven hours repairing her pedestal winch in the Indian Ocean. She encountered extreme weather near Cape Leeuwin, with 50-knot winds causing her FR0 sail to tear and a runner block to break.

She later stated that she feared the mast might snap in half. Additionally, an engine failure reduced her ability to generate power.

One of the most dangerous moments came south of Brazil, where she had to climb the mast twice in 20 knots of wind and two-meter swells. She later admitted that the experience was terrifying and that she would never attempt such a climb again in those conditions.

Dorange captivated audiences with her open and authentic communication throughout the race. Her excitement was evident when she reported from the waters near Namibia, realising she had never travelled so far before.

She also described the Southern Ocean’s snow-covered deck as a magical experience. Despite the challenges, she remained focused and determined. She crossed the equator in 21st position, ahead of veteran sailors like Jean Le Cam.

Her achievement comes 24 years after Ellen MacArthur finished second in the 2000-01 Vendée Globe at age 24, completing the race in 94 days, 4 hours and 25 minutes.

Dorange has been currently ranked 14th in the 2024 IMOCA championship, a series featuring some of the world’s best offshore sailors and state-of-the-art 60-foot yachts.

Reference: vendeeglobe

Source: Maritime Shipping News