Paralympian triumphs at Vendée Globe

Published on February 3rd, 2025

After 84 days, 20 hours and 31 minutes of racing, on February 3, 2025, Paralympian Damien Seguin crossed the finish line of his second consecutive Vendée Globe, ending the epic non-stop round the world race in 15th position.

Born without left hand, Damien became in 2021 the first disabled skipper to complete a solo, non-stop, unassisted round the world race. A three-time Paralympic medalist in the 2.4mR class, he entered offshore racing in 2005 in the Figaro and then the Class 40 before joining the IMOCA circuit in 2018. Determined and constantly looking to progress, Damien has managed to convince people that his handicap is not a brake on performance. During his first Vendée Globe, which he finished in 7th place, he made a big impression by often playing at the front of the fleet. For 2024, he aspired to new sporting ambitions aboard his foiler.

At 45, the disabled skipper succeeded in his bet to continue sailing at the highest level, even if, by his own admission, this second round the world race was “a battle against himself”, but also against particularly erratic weather that deprived Groupe APICIL of his long-held dream of competing at the head of the fleet. Like a true champion he fought hard until the end, under pressure he held on to his 15th place as three rivals pressed hard only a few miles behind as he approached the line.

You can be a proud Captain Hook, an athlete with a Paralympic medal, and yet still be shaken by the emotion surrounding the descent of the Sables d’Olonne channel at the start of the Vendee Globe. Four years after an edition without an audience, in which he finished in 7th place, Damien had a hard time “getting back into his race” after the enormous wave of support, offered by the Vendéen public.

Already a little behind the head of the fleet at the start of his race, the skipper fell into calm winds off the Canaries, and routed to the east when all the big names in the IMOCA class went towards the west. This created a gap early in the race that he could never close.

The setbacks piled up in a complex passage through the doldrums and Damien crossed the equator in 17th place. In the South Atlantic, he battled with Pip Hare, Romain Attanasio and Louis Burton, before heading further north in the Indian Ocean to preserve his IMOCA, the former Maître CoQ IV, winner of the 2020 edition, brought up to date with large foils during a major refit.

December 13 was a day to forget when a chainplate was torn off in a storm, creating a leak on board. While trying to make a repair Damien injured his neck and knee, and was forced to regularly wear a neck brace throughout the remainder of his race.

The Pacific was no easier for Groupe APICIL, even if he managed to make up more than 500 miles on Romain Attanasio. But unfavorable weather systems followed one after the other and, just behind, Jean Le Cam, who had been able to sail a far more direct route, caught up with him.

Damien rounded Cape Horn after 54 days at sea, three fewer than in his 2020 Vendée Globe, but his troubles were not over. The ascent of the Atlantic was also an ordeal, as he was the first to be stopped by a high pressure system creating a barrier and twice saw the group behind catch up, some of them gaining 2,000 miles. The rubber band had snapped, and the pain was intense!

Damien was forced to dig deep to continue fighting, particularly in an exceptionally difficult passage of the doldrums. The ultimate reward for this round the world race, however, is this victory in the final battle, in a sprint from the north of the Azores in a regrouping of the fleet.

Launching his foiling boat at full speed, the Groupe APICIL skipper takes the lead over his seven nearest competitors, and manages to lengthen his stride to cross the finish line first. It’s a long way from the results he scored on The Transat CIC (8th) or on Retour à La Base (5th) but with the satisfaction of having nevertheless played with the cards he was dealt. Before the start, he explained, “you really have to understand that the Vendée Globe is a race apart, and where absolutely anything can happen.”

RACE IN FIGURES

ARRIVAL TIME (UTC) – MONDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2025 AT 08H33
RACE TIME – 84D 20H 31MIN 48S
DIFFERENCE FROM FIRST – 20D 01H 08MIN 59S

Damien Seguin covered theoretical course of 23 906 miles at an average speed of 11.74 knots, and an actual course of 29 263 miles at an average speed of 14.37 knots.

Damien’s Race Highlights

13 NOVEMBER 2024
“It’s not easy to get back into my race”, the emotion of the start is slow to die down for Damien, who is battling well back in the pack in 28th position.

16 NOVEMBER 2024
Off the Canaries, Damien chooses an easterly option to get through an area of calm winds. He climbs back to 3rd place in the ranking, but will pay dearly for it later!

22 NOVEMBER 2024
The doldrums prove complicated for Damien, who crosses the equator in 17th position. “I felt like someone was holding me by the pants so I wouldn’t escape!”

29 NOVEMBER 2024
Having been overtaken by the depression that’s pushing the leaders, Groupe APICIL is battling in the south Atlantic with Pip Hare, Romain Attanasio and Louis Burton.

4 DECEMBER 2024
Goodbye Atlantic, hello Indian Ocean! Damien chooses to go north in conditions he describes as “apocalyptic” and “boat-breaking”.

13 DECEMBER 2024
A day from hell aboard Groupe Apicil: stuck in a violent depression, Damien sees a chainplate ripped off, creating a leak on board. In the shock, the skipper injures his neck and knee.

16 DECEMBER 2024
Rounding Cape Leeuwin in 17th position, in more manageable conditions that allow him to finish repairs.

21 DECEMBER 2024
After sailing along the ice zone, Damien attacks the Pacific close-hauled and in little wind, hunting for Romain Attanasio!

29 DECEMBER 2024
Passing Point Nemo in 16th position, while a new depression forces him to “play the wild boar” and go north with Romain Attanasio.

3 JANUARY 2025
Rounds Cape Horn after 54 days at sea, three days less than in his 2020 Vendée Globe.

9 JANUARY 2025
Damien battles with Romain Attanasio, and a lack of wind that allows the competitors behind to catch up. This sees the return of Jean Le Cam, then Alan Roura, and finally the whole group led by Giancarlo Pedote. It’s hard on morale!

12 JANUARY 2025
With Jean Le Cam and Alan Roura, Damien bets on an easterly option off the coast of Brazil. He is the only one of this group to succeed.

21 JANUARY 2025
Crossed the equator in 16th position, after several days stuck in the doldrums.

25 JANUARY 2025
The trade winds allow Damien to escape with Isabelle Joschke, but the Azores high pressure system stops Groupe Apicil dead in its tracks and the competitors from behind again catch up.

31 JANUARY 2025
In strong wind and sea conditions, Damien took the lead and never let go, determined to grab the Top 15.

3 FEBRUARY 2025
Arrival in Les Sables d’Olonne in 15th position. The disabled sailor completes his second Vendée Globe.

For ETA updates, click here.

Final Results – Top Ten
1. Charlie Dalin (FRA): 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes, 49 seconds
2. Yoann Richomme (FRA): 65 days, 18 hours, 10 minutes, 2 seconds
3. Sébastien Simon (FRA): 67 days, 12 hours, 25 minutes, 37 seconds
4. Jérémie Beyou (FRA): 74 days, 12 hours, 56 minutes, 54 seconds
5. Paul Meilhat (FRA): 74 days, 22 hours, 38 minutes, 15 seconds
6. Nicolas Lunven (FRA): 75 days, 07 hours, 49 minutes, 41 seconds
7. Thomas Ruyant (FRA): 75 days, 16 hours, 47 minutes, 27 seconds
8. Justine Mettraux (SUI): 76 days, 01 hour, 36 minutes, 52 seconds
9. Sam Goodchild (GBR): 76 days, 02 hours, 01 minutes, 45 seconds
10. Benjamin Dutreux (FRA): 77 days, 03 hours, 39 minutes, 24 seconds

Race updatesTrackerRankingArrival timesFacebook

Attrition:
Nov. 15: Maxime Sorel (FRA), V and B – Monbana – Mayenne, ankle injury, mast damage
Dec. 4: Louis Burton (FRA), Bureau Vallée, rigging failure
Dec. 15: Pip Hare (GBR), Medallia, dismasted
Dec. 16: Szabolcs Weöres (HUN), New Europe, broken D2 shroud
Dec. 30: Yannick Bestaven (FRA), Maître CoQ V, steerage damage
Jan. 12: Éric Bellion (FRA), STAND AS ONE – Altavia, broken J2 forestay pin
Jan. 30: Arnaud Boissières (FRA), La Mie Câline, dismasted

The Vendée Globe, raced in the 60-foot IMOCA, is the elite race round the world, solo, non-stop, and without assistance. On November 10, 40 skippers started the 2024-25 edition which begins and ends in Les Sables d’Olonne, France.

Armel Le Cléac’h, winning in 2017, previously held the record for the 24,300 nm course of 74 days 03 hours 35 minutes 46 seconds. Only one sailor has won it twice: Michel Desjoyeaux in 2001 and 2009. This is tenth running of the race.

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