Multi world record breaking solo yachtsman, Brian Thompson, is one of the most experienced sailors in the world. On February 16th 2009, after almost 100 days at sea the Bahrain Team Pindar skipper fulfilled a lifelong ambition, as he completed the solo, non-stop, round-the-world yacht race, the Vendée Globe. Race rookie, Brian, finished in fifth position on board his Open 60 yacht, named in honour of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.

The ‘Everest of the Sea’, the Vendée Globe is one of the toughest sporting challenges in the world. Sailed solo, non-stop around the world and without assistance, it is a gruelling test of individual stamina and endurance.

Founded in 1989, by Philippe Jeantot, the race now takes place every four years and is open to monohull yachts conforming to the Open 60 class criteria. The journey starts and finishes in Les Sables d’Olonne, in France, covers over 27,000 nautical miles and takes approximately 3 months to complete.

Thanks to the technological advances of communications on board, the journey is followed live from the desk top by sailing fans around the world, as they share in the voyage that sees skippers pass the Cape of Good Hope, travel clockwise around Antarctica through the treacherous Southern Ocean, before rounding Cape Horn and heading home. The race record is held by 2009 winner Michel Desjoyeaux, who completed the race, on Foncia, in 84 days, 03 hours, 09 minutes. He also became the first man to win the race twice, having sailed to victory in the 2001/02 edition.

The route presents enormous challenges, most notably the severe wind and wave conditions in the Southern Ocean, where skippers encounter persistent boat breaking waves and the threat of icebergs.  Another key challenge is coping with the solitary nature of the race in such a vast environment, where competitors are far from the reach of any normal emergency response. 

The race has made household names of sailors such as Ellen MacArthur who, in 2001, at just 24-years old and the youngest competitor in the race, not only finished second but became the fastest female ever to circumnavigate the planet. The 1996 edition illustrated the ferocity and spirit of the race when Frenchman, Raphael Dinelli, became a victim of the Southern Ocean when his mast shattered in 80 knot gusts, forcing his boat to capsize. His only chance of survival lay in the hands of fellow competitor, Pete Goss, who displayed tremendous courage by turning back into the eye of a storm, to rescue him. Goss was subsequently awarded an MBE and Legion d’Honneur; whilst Dinelli went on to complete the next edition of the race!

The 2008/09 edition of the Vendée Globe continued to live up to its reputation as the sternest challenge in solo sailing. With just 11 of the 30 boats on the start line set to complete the race, there were two major rescues in the Southern Ocean. Firstly for skipper Yann Eliès, who sustained a fracture to his thighbone in December, followed by the rescue of Jean Le Cam in January, who capsized 200 miles west of Cape Horn. For a worrying 12 hours, the wellbeing of Le Cam was unclear until fellow competitor Vincent Riou (PRB) arrived at the scene and undertook a dramatic rescue.

For more information, please visit the race website: http://www.vendeeglobe.org