LES SABLES D’OLONNE, France (AP) — French sailor Francois Gabart has won the Vendee Globe round-the-world race in record time, shaving six days off the previous record held by countryman Michel Desjoyeaux.
The 29-year-old Gabart is the youngest skipper competing in the seventh edition of the race and crossed the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne in western France at lunchtime Sunday in his yacht MACIF.
Gabart sailed for a total of 78 days, 2:16:40, smashing two-time winner Desjoyeaux’s course record of 84 days, 3:09:08 in 2009. Desjoyeaux did not compete this year.
When Gabart crossed the equator line Jan. 15 he was already more than five days quicker than Desjoyeaux in 2009.
Frenchman Armel Le Cleac’h and Briton Alex Thomson were in second and third when Gabart crossed the line.
