After a thrilling and long-running duel with winner Charlie Dalin, the PAPREC ARKÉA skipper completed his first solo round the world race this morning at 0612 UTC, taking a superb second place after 65 days, 18 hours and 10 minutes at sea.
It’s a remarkable achievement for a Vendée Globe first timer and a large, passionate crowd gathered to welcome Yoann back to Les Sables d’Olonne before dawn on a freezing winter’s morning.
His arrival symbolises the culmination of an extraordinary adventure and the crowds lining the legendary Les Sables d’Olonne channel exploded with joy and applause as the silhouette of the boat emerged. The sailor, smiling and visibly moved, greeted the crowd, savouring every moment of this celebration of his success and tenacity.
Yoann Richomme has left an indelible mark on the already storied history of the Vendée Globe. From the very first days of the race, back in November, he established himself as a formidable opponent, demonstrating mastery across the extraordinarily wide gamut of talents needed to complete a solo non-stop circumnavigation.
A key strategic decision was his choice in the Indian Ocean to take the safe route around a giant low pressure system, while Charlie Dalin and Sébastien Simon opted for the direct route, through the centre of this dangerous system. This gamble, which he regretted after seeing his competitors emerge with a significant lead, pushed him to redouble his efforts. In the deep south, he adopted an impressive pace, repeatedly putting in remarkable performances in demanding and relentless conditions. This tenacity was rewarded when he rounded Cape Horn in the lead, with a 9 minutes and 30 second advantage over Charlie Dalin.
A thrilling game of cat and mouse followed, where the two sailors traded blows, as they competing for every mile of advantage until the unpredictable conditions of the cold front at Cape Frio, where Charlie managed to escape. Despite this, Yoann showed impressive fighting spirit to the last, maintaining constant pressure on his opponent.
A second place in his first participation in the Vendée Globe is proof of an exceptional sailor in the most demanding competition in the sporting world. By completing this loop around the planet 22 hours and 47 minutes after the winner, he has inscribed his name among the leading figures of this legendary race.
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