The first edition, held in 1989-1990, saw 13 participants set off from Les Sables-d'Olonne on 26 November 1989. But there were no women on the starting line. The same goes for the second edition (1992-1993) which sees 15 participants sailing around the world.
We'll have to wait until the 3rd e edition held in 1996-97 to see women in the race. Out of the 15 boats at the start (plus Raphaël Dinelli out of the race due to a late qualification) there were two women lining up in Les Sables-d'Olonne: Catherine Chabaud and Isabelle Autissier. The two women sailors are opening the way to Everest des Mers for women.
The first will be the first woman to complete a single-handed non-stop round-the-world race aboard Whirlpool, taking the 6 e isabelle Autissier was forced to stop in Cape Town to repair her rudder, which had been damaged while she was sailing in the leading group. She was also making history by searching, without success, for her friend Gerry Roufs, who had disappeared in the southern seas. After several days of searching, and suffering several capsizes, tired and sore, she brought her PRB back to Les Sables-d'Olonne, out of the race.
The new millennium edition (2001-2002) welcomes 24 sailors, including two women: Catherine Chabaud, who returns for the 2 e times and Britain's Ellen MacArthur, 24, who will be on the podium at the 2 e place.
The young English skipper stands on the starting line aboard Kingfisher, a yacht built especially for her. The public then wonders how such a frail young woman can sail such a big boat... Yet, her arrival in 2 e position behind Michel Desjoyeaux will make him jealous, because of the welcome given to the young Ellen by the crowd gathered in Les Sables-d'Olonne. Catherine Chabaud is heading back to the Vendée without finishing after dismasting.
In the 2004-2005 edition, two more women took the start of the race, alongside the 18 male skippers lining up in Les Sables-d'Olonne. Anne Liardet, on Roxy, completes her round the world in 11 e position, after 119 d 5 h 28' and proves that you can be a mother of three and a sailor. She finished two places ahead of another French sailor, Karen Leibovici, who finished thirteenth.
Anne Liardet
In 2008-2009 two women participate alongside 28 men skippers. Samantha Davies and Dee Caffari, both British, are making this Vendée Globe a women's race, by giving media coverage to their round the world voyage (videos, photos...) and sharing their daily lives. The first will complete 95 d 4 h 39 min 1 s after a bonus, on Roxy and finish at the foot of the podium. The second will finish at the 6 e position on Aviva, after 99 d 1 h 10 min 57 s.
In 2012-13, Samantha Davies returns for her 2nd e participation on board Savéol, but will have to give up when his boat dismasts off Portugal. However, even if she is not classified, her arrival will make a big noise on the pontoons.
Sam Davies
In 2016-2017, for cett e 8 e edition, only one woman was pre-registered: the Spanish Anna Corbella, who declared "I can't stay in the dock and let a Vendée Globe sail off without a woman!" The two-time winner of the Barcelona World Race failed to meet the minimum budget of 700,000 euros and had to withdraw from the race. Samantha Davie, despite being used to circumnavigating the globe, knew very well that by taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race in 2015, she would not be able to prepare for the Vendée Globe. And then, this year, it is her husband - Romain Attanasio - who is taking over. See you in 2020 for the British sailor, who has become a Briton.
Anna Corbella
In the end, only seven women took part in the Vendée Globe and six completed the race. By way of comparison, 130 men took part and 66 crossed the finish line.
