2004–2005 Vendée Globe


The 2004–2005 Vendée Globe was a non-stop solo round-the-world yacht race for IMOCA 60 class yachts. The fifth edition of the race started on 7 November 2004 from Les Sables-d'Olonne.

Summary

The start of the 2004 race was watched by an estimated 300,000 people, which took place in mild weather. A fast start was followed by a few minor equipment problems, allowing the first racers to cross the equator just after 10 days. This was three days faster than the previous race, with all of the starters still sailing.
Attrition began on entry into the Roaring Forties: Alex Thomson diverted to Cape Town to make unassisted repairs and continue racing. The fleet encountered a number of other problems. Hervé Laurent retired with serious rudder problems, Thomson abandoned, and Conrad Humphreys anchored to make unassisted rudder repairs. Gear problems and abandonments continued, then the fleet ran into an area of ice, and Sébastien Josse hit an iceberg head-on.
The lead changed several times as the fleet re-entered the Atlantic. The race remained close right to the finish, which saw three boats finish within 29 hours.
The first Race Director Denis Horeau returned to the role after 15 years to head the event management team.

Entries

Participant facts equipment

Twenty 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 boatNaval architectBuilderLaunch dateRef.
Alex ThomsonNeverHugo BossMarc LombardMag France1998
Anne LiardetNeverROXYMarc Lombard
Briand		Mag France1989
Bruce SchwabNeverOcean PlanetThomas WylleSchooner Creek Boat2001
Benoît ParnaudeauNeverMax Havelaar / Best WesternRowsell-MorissonRowsell-Morisson1991
Conrad HumphreysNeverHellomotoFinot-Conq1998
Dominique Wavre1 / 1 Temenos (1)Finot-Conq1999
Jean-Pierre DickNeverVirbac-Paprec (1)Farr yacht design2003
Jean Le CamNeverBonduelle 2Marc LombardJMV Industries2004
Karen LeiboviciNeverBeneficPhilippe Harlé
Alain Mortain		CDK Technologies1991
Hervé Laurent1 / 1 UUDSFinot-ConqJMV Industries1994
Joe Seeten1 / 1 Arcelor-DunkerqueFinot-ConqJMV Industries1998
Marc Thiercelin2 / 2 Pro FormMarc LombardMag France1998
Mike Golding1 / 1 Ecover 2Owen Clarke Design2003
Nick MoloneyNeverSkandiaOwen Clarke DesignMarten Yachts2000
Patrice Carpentier2 / 1 VM Matériaux (2)Michel Joubert
Benoit Nivet		1999
Raphaël Dinelli2 / 0Akena VerandasNándor FaNandor Fa chantier1996
Roland Jourdain1 / 1 Sill Véolia (2)Marc LombardJMV Industries2004
Norbert SedlacekNeverBrotherBernard NivettChantier Norbert Sedlacek1995
Sébastien JosseNeverVMIFinot-ConqKirié / Éluère1998
Vincent RiouNeverPRB 2Finot-ConqMag France2000