Guirec Soudée finishes 23rd in the Vendée Globe
by Vendée Globe media 8 Feb 00:51 PST
8 February 2025
Guirec Soudée, 23rd in the Vendée Globe © Olivier Blanchet / Alea
When he crossed the finish line at 09 18 hrs on Febuary 08th, Guirec Soudée not only secured 23rd place but the 32 year old from north Brittany completes a four year transition from global adventurer to accomplished, respected ocean racer.
Soudée's previous exploits made him a household name in France, sailing round the world solo over a five year period accompanied only by Monique, a chicken from the Canary Islands. Along the way he was trapped in Arctic ice for 130 days on his 9,5m sloop Yvinec - which is named after the Breton island where he grew up, and at 26 he became the youngest skipper to navigate solo the Northwest Passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic. Guirec and Monique sailed more than 45,0000 miles together, passing Cape Horn, returning home via the Caribbean.
For all of his 70,000 sea miles, including rowing solo both ways across the Atlantic. Soudée had never been on an IMOCA before he started on his four year challenge to take on the Vendée Globe. He took it all step by step, finding a sponsor (Freelance.com), a boat (Benjamin Dutreux's Farr design recruited a team with friends who supported him and benefited from the advice of Sébastien Audigane, Roland Jourdain and Corentin Douguet.
From the start of his IMOCA racing career Soudée quickly demonstrated his potential taking 6th place in the Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne in 2022 despite tough conditions towards the end of the race, a solid performance for only his second IMOCA solo race.
His fast track learning curve complemented his appetite to learn and his innate drive and determination. But during this race Soudée has had his fair share of technical problems: spinnaker problems, torn J2 and gennaker, "lazy jacks" issues, broken halyards. And so beyond the challenges of sailing fast and competitively he has to be deal with the technical issues. He climbs the mast, repairs in his cockpit and even dived into the icy waters of the South Atlantic after Cape Horn to recover a sail which had snagged his appendages.
But beyond everything Guirec deals successfully with some horrific weather like in the Indian Ocean where he has to face gusts exceeding 70 knots. He was able to hold on in difficult times and held out to the finish line, and so finally realising his goal and experiencing the unique joy of becoming a Vendée Globe finisher.
Race in figures
- Arrival time (UTC): Saturday 8 February 2025 at 08h18
- Race time: 89d 20h 16min 20s
- Difference from first: 25d 00h 53min 31s
Guirec Soudée covered theoretical course of 23?906 miles at an average speed of 11.09 knots.
Guirec Soudée covered an actual course of 27?970 miles at an average speed of 12.97 knots.
Race highlights
Guirec gets off to a bumpy start, as his spinnaker goes under water and gets stuck in his keel while he is in 22nd position.
Spinnaker returned after many hours of sewing, just in time to tackle the calm off Cape Verde.
Guirec crosses the equator for the third time in his life, but the first time in his life without Monique! He is 32nd in the ranking.
The ARGO float on board Freelance.com is dropped in the middle of the South Atlantic, in the middle of a regatta with Sébastien Marsset.
Guirec crosses the Cape of Good Hope in 28th place, on a very southerly route and side by side with Louis Duc!
Double damage on board Freelance.com! After a problem with the J1 halyard getting tangled in the jibtop, gusts of over 50 knots knocked the boat over and tore off its J2. He headed towards the Kerguelen Islands to take shelter and climb the mast. He left in 30th position.
Guirec left the Kerguelen Islands in the storm, with 10-metre waves. "I saw a gust of 72 knots (134 km/h), that was tough!"
Cape Leeuwin rounded in 29th position, just ahead of Kojiro Shiraishi. The next day, the boat nosedived suddenly which threw him into his boat and left him with a very sore shoulder!
Guirec took advantage of the calm at the start of the Pacific to catch up with the competitors in front, notably Arnaud Boissières. But deprived of two headsails - his gennaker and his J2 - he is inevitably handicapped.
Happy birthday Guirec! 33 years celebrated after passing Point Nemo, without an iceberg on the horizon but with a nice 23rd place when he woke up. Right in the game!
Rounding Cape Horn in 24th position, less than 3 miles from Conrad Colman, Louis Duc and Sébastien Marsset. To celebrate, a climb up the mast to repair problems with the J2 and "lazy jacks".
Diving into the icy water! The breaking of the code 0 halyard forced Guirec to go into the water in the roaring fifties, while his boat was drifting, the sail stuck in the keel.
After a storm in the Falklands, Guirec puts some East in his trajectory, and manages to slip into a mouse hole. He climbs back to 23rd place.
Ecuador, the return! After a relatively mild Doldrums, Guirec continues to ride alone in 23rd position.
Arrival in Les Sables d'Olonne after 89 days at sea, in XXth position. The Vendée Globe "rookie" completes his solo round the world race!
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