1996–1997 Vendée Globe


The 1996–1997 Vendée Globe was a non-stop round-the-world yacht race for IMOCA 50- and IMOCA 60-class yachts crewed by only one person. It was the third edition of the race, starting on 3 November 1996 from Les Sables-d'Olonne. The overall winner was Christophe Auguin who crossed the finish line on 17 February 1997 after a total time of 105 days, 20 hours and 31 minutes.
WWW vendeeglobe.org/en

Summary

Another heavy-weather start in the Bay of Biscay knocked Nándor Fa and Didier Munduteguy out of the race early, and several others returned to the start for repairs before continuing. The rest of the fleet raced to the Southern Ocean, where a second attrition began: Yves Parlier and Isabelle Autissier broke rudders, leaving Christophe Auguin to lead the way into the south.
The race was won by Christophe Auguin. Catherine Chabaud, in sixth place, was the last to cross the finish line and the first woman to complete a solo navigation of the globe without stopping. Ten of the sixteen boats that started the race did not finish.
The book Godforsaken Sea by Derek Lundy profiles the 1996–1997 running of the race.

Incidents

Gerry Roufs

The yacht Groupe LG 2 and its Canadian sailor Gerry Roufs were lost in the Southern Ocean; his body was never found, but his boat was found five months later off the Chilean Coast.

Retirement causes

Heavy weather took a serious toll on the sailors in the far Southern Ocean.
Unofficial competitor Raphaël Dinelli's boat capsized, and he was rescued by Pete Goss. Then, within a few hours of each other, two other boats capsized, with both rescues undertaken by the Royal Australian Navy.
Pete Goss was later awarded the Légion d'honneur for his rescue of Dinelli. The capsize of several boats in this race prompted tightening up of the safety rules for entrants, particularly regarding boat safety and stability.

Results

'''Table: Order of Finish, 1996–1997 Vendée Globe'''

Competitors

Entries boats

Fifteen skippers started the race a qualification passage was required to validate the registration of each boat, this course could have been carried out as part of another sailing race.
SkipperNat.Prev. participation
Name of boatSail no.Naval architectBuilderLaunch dateRef.
Bertrand de Broc1 / 0Votre Nom autour du Monde
- Pommes Rhône Alpes		Philippe BriandATA Jeanneau1989
Catherine ChabaudNeverWhirlpool-Europe 2Philippe Harlé
Alain Mortain		CDK Technologies1991
Christophe AuguinNeverGeodisFinot-ConqJMV Industries1994
Didier MunduteguyNeverClub 60 SudPhilip MorrisonRowsell & Morrison 1990
Éric DumontNeverCafé Legal-Le GoûtFinot-ConqCDK Technologies1992
Gerry RoufsNeverGroupe LG 2Finot-ConqMag et JMV1995
Hervé LaurentNeverGroupe LG-TraitmatLuc Bouvet
Olivier Petit		Chantier Capitaine Flint1989
Isabelle AutissierNeverPRB (1)Finot-ConqMarc Pinta1996
Marc ThiercelinNeverCrédit Immobilier de FranceFinot-ConqMarc Pinta1990
Nándor Fa1 / 1 BudapestNándor FaFa Hajo Kft1996
Patrick de RadiguèsNeverAfibelPhilippe Harlé
Alain Mortain		Garcia1989
Pete GossNeverAqua QuorumAdrian ThompsonPete Goss – Plymouth GBR1996IMOCA 50
Tony BullimoreNeverExide ChallengerNoble et SmithWesley Massam1992
Thierry DuboisNeverPour Amnesty InternationalJoubert-Niveltchantier Hervé et Pinta1989
Yves Parlier1 / 1 Aquitaine InnovationsFinot-ConqComposite Aquitaine
Thierry Eluère		1996
Raphaël DinelliNeverAlgimoussMarc LombardJeantot Marine1998