Vendee Globe 2016/2017: Victory for Armel Le Cléac’h

Images: Voile banque Populaire & Christophe Launay . Click images for HQ & Slideshow –
Armel Le Cléac’h victory at the 2016/2017 is a triumph for his sailor skills & guts but also a great design success by VPLP Design & Guillaume Verdier.  Check Arrival Live replay posted today at catsailingnews.com/2017/01/vendee-globe-arrival-live.html

When the first IMOCA foils arose it all seemed too crazy, mostly on reliability which was a big issue since day 1. But now after 74Days 3hours 35m 46sec of navigating full speed 24,500 NM across the Globe, all the previous work and previous testing (Mini Transats were used to proof of concept) the designers and builders of this incredible yacht can  toast along Armel, his team and the excellent support of Banque Populaire to enjoy such a great achievement. If I’m right this is a 100% French Victory as the boat was built by CDK Technologies.

This new record beats  previous record of 78 days 2 hours 16 minutes set by another French sailor François Gabart in the 2012-13 edition, by three days, 22 hours and 41 minutes.
Peyron, Gabart, Coville and Joyon now going for Loick’s record and plenty more. Who Rules the Ocean? The French, who else? Hatt off to the entire French sailing community.

Official report on Armel’s arrival at vendeeglobe.org/en/news/18251/le-cleac-h-smashes-vendee-globe-race-record-in-spectacular-style

Above videos of Banque Populaire VIII sailing and its design features to remind us what Armel has done along Thomson and the rest of the Vendee Globe sailors.

For BP VIII details check its presentation previous the race: vendeeglobe.org/en/news/14654/armel-le-cleac-h-reveals-his-new-banque-populaire-viii