By David Pendered

Nov. 25 – A record-breaking number of seven women sailors is competing in one of the world’s major bluewater sailboat races around the world, an arena once dominated by men.

This year’s group of seven female skippers in the Vendée Globe is an increase of one from the 2020-21 edition of the Vendée. That fleet had set a record for female participation.

As on Monday morning, Day 15 in a race of at least 75 days, all women were ranked in the top 22 positions in the fleet of 39 boats. Samantha Davis, a Brit, was ranked 10^th; four women were ranked in the top 20, and 22-year-old French phenom Violette Dorange was ranked 22^nd.

Dorange’s accomplishments include sailing solo across the English Channel and Straits of Gibralter in an Optimist, a dinghy that’s less than 8 feet long and 4 feet wide.

One boat abandoned the race Nov. 15. French skipper Maxime Sorel severely injured his ankle while trying to repair his mainsail. He determined there was no way he could complete the race.

The event is known as the “Everest of the seas.” Skippers are solo and not allowed to stop or receive any assistance during a circumnavigation. All boats are 60 feet long, have foils to increase speed, and can reach speeds of 35 mph. The course is 24,300 miles but most boats travel over 28,000 miles as they navigate the winds, waves, swell and ice.

This year’s Vendée Globe started Nov. 10 offshore of Les Sables d’Olonne, located on the Atlantic Coast of France.

Vendee Globe

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