# 2004–2005 Vendée Globe

The 2004–2005 Vendée Globe was a non-stop solo round-the-world yacht race for IMOCA 60 class yachts. The fifth edition of the race started on 7 November 2004 from Les Sables-d'Olonne.

## Summary

The start of the 2004 race was watched by an estimated 300,000 people, which took place in mild weather. A fast start was followed by a few minor equipment problems, allowing the first racers to cross the equator just after 10 days. This was three days faster than the previous race, with all of the starters still sailing.
Attrition began on entry into the Roaring Forties: Alex Thomson diverted to Cape Town to make unassisted repairs and continue racing. The fleet encountered a number of other problems. Hervé Laurent retired with serious rudder problems, Thomson abandoned, and Conrad Humphreys anchored to make unassisted rudder repairs. Gear problems and abandonments continued, then the fleet ran into an area of ice, and Sébastien Josse hit an iceberg head-on.
The lead changed several times as the fleet re-entered the Atlantic. The race remained close right to the finish, which saw three boats finish within 29 hours.
The first Race Director Denis Horeau returned to the role after 15 years to head the event management team.

## Results

Table: Order of Finish, 2004–2005 Vendée Globe :
| Pos | Sailor | G | Yacht | Time | Delta | % |
| 01 | Vincent Riou (FRA) | M | PRB 2 | 087d 10h 47' 55" | new race record | new race record |
| 02 | Jean Le Cam (FRA) | M | Bonduelle 2 | 087d 17h 20m 08s | 00d 06h 32m 13s | 0.31% |
| 03 | Mike Golding (GBR) | M | Ecover 2 | 088d 15h 15m 13s | 01d 04h 27m 18s | 1.36% |
| 04 | Dominique Wavre | M | Temenos (1) | 092d 17h 13m 20s | 05d 06h 25m 25s | 6.02% |
| 05 | Sébastien Josse (FRA) | M | VMI | 093d 00h 02m 10s | 05d 13h 14m 15s | 6.35% |
| 06 | Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) | M | Virbac-Paprec (1) | 098d 03h 49m 38s | 010d 17h 01m 43s | 12.25% |
| 07 | Conrad Humphreys (GBR) | M | Hellomoto | 104d 14h 32m 24s | 017d 03h 44m 29s | 19.62% |
| 08 | Joé Seeten (FRA) | M | Arcelor Dunkerque | 104d 23h 02m 45s | 017d 12h 14m 50s | 20.02% |
| 09 | Bruce Schwab (USA) | M | Ocean Planet | 109d 19h 58m 57s | 022d 09h 11m 02s | 25.59% |
| 10 | Benoît Parnaudeau (FRA) | M | Max Havelaar / Best Western | 116d 01h 06m 54s | 028d 14h 18m 59s | 32.7% |
| 11 | Anne Liardet (FRA) | F | ROXY | 119d 05h 28m 40s | 031d 18h 40m 45s | 36.34% |
| 12 | Raphaël Dinelli (FRA) | M | Akena Verandas | 125d 04h 07m 14s | 037d 17h 19m 19s | 43.14% |
| 13 | Karen Leibovici (FRA) | F | Benefic | 126d 08h 02m 20s | 038d 21h 14m 25s | 44.47% |
| DNF(7) | Nick Moloney (AUS) | M | Skandia | Keel Failure (went back and completed passage) | Keel Failure (went back and completed passage) | Keel Failure (went back and completed passage) |
| DNF(6) | Patrice Carpentier (FRA) | M | VM Matériaux (2) | broken boom | broken boom | broken boom |
| DNF(5) | Marc Thiercelin (FRA) | M | Pro-Form | Outside assistance required in NZL (complete passage) | Outside assistance required in NZL (complete passage) | Outside assistance required in NZL (complete passage) |
| DNF(4) | Roland Jourdain (FRA) | M | Sill Véolia (2) | keel problems | keel problems | keel problems |
| DNF(3) | Norbert Sedlacek (AUT) | M | Brother | keel problems | keel problems | keel problems |
| DNF(2) | Alex Thomson (GBR) | M | Hugo Boss | Hole in the deck | Hole in the deck | Hole in the deck |
| DNF(1) | Hervé Laurent (FRA) | M | UUDS | rudder problem | rudder problem | rudder problem |
| DNS | Patrick Favre (FRA) | M | Adrenalines | | | |

## Entries
### Participants gallery

* Alex Thomson (GBR) Hugo Boss
* Anne Liardet (FRA) ROXY
* Dominique Wavre (SUI) Temenos (1)
* Jean Le Cam (FRA) Bonduelle 2
* Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) Virbac-Paprec (1)
* Marc Thiercelin (FRA) Pro-Form
* Mike Golding (GBR) Ecover 2
* Norbert Sedlacek (AUT) Brother
* Sébastien Josse (FRA) VMI
* Raphaël Dinelli (FRA) Akena Verandas
* Roland Jourdain (FRA) Sill Véolia (2)
* Vincent Riou (FRA) PRB 2

### Participant facts equipment

Twenty skippers started the race a qualification passage was required to validate the registration of each boat, this course could have been carried out as part of another sailing race.
Details on competitors and the boats used :
| Skipper | Nat. | Prev. participation (Start/Finish) | Name of boat | Naval architect | Builder | Launch date |
| Alex Thomson | United Kingdom | Never | Hugo Boss | Marc Lombard | Mag France | 1998 |
| Anne Liardet | France | Never | ROXY | Marc Lombard Briand | Mag France | 1989 |
| Bruce Schwab | United States | Never | Ocean Planet | Thomas Wylle | Schooner Creek Boat | 2001 |
| Benoît Parnaudeau | France | Never | Max Havelaar / Best Western | Rowsell-Morisson | Rowsell-Morisson | 1991 |
| Conrad Humphreys | United Kingdom | Never | Hellomoto | Finot-Conq | | 1998 |
| Dominique Wavre | Switzerland | 1 / 1 (5th) | Temenos (1) | Finot-Conq | | 1999 |
| Jean-Pierre Dick | France | Never | Virbac-Paprec (1) | Farr yacht design | | 2003 |
| Jean Le Cam | France | Never | Bonduelle 2 | Marc Lombard | JMV Industries | 2004 |
| Karen Leibovici | France | Never | Benefic | Philippe Harlé Alain Mortain | CDK Technologies | 1991 |
| Hervé Laurent | France | 1 / 1 (3rd) | UUDS | Finot-Conq | JMV Industries | 1994 |
| Joe Seeten | France | 1 / 1 (10th) | Arcelor-Dunkerque | Finot-Conq | JMV Industries | 1998 |
| Marc Thiercelin | France | 2 / 2 (2nd) | Pro Form | Marc Lombard | Mag France | 1998 |
| Mike Golding | United Kingdom | 1 / 1 (7th) | Ecover 2 | Owen Clarke Design | | 2003 |
| Nick Moloney | Australia | Never | Skandia | Owen Clarke Design | Marten Yachts | 2000 |
| Patrice Carpentier | France | 2 / 1 (11th) | VM Matériaux (2) | Michel Joubert Benoit Nivet | | 1999 |
| Raphaël Dinelli | France | 2 / 0 | Akena Verandas | Nándor Fa | Nandor Fa chantier | 1996 |
| Roland Jourdain | France | 1 / 1 (3rd) | Sill Véolia (2) | Marc Lombard | JMV Industries | 2004 |
| Norbert Sedlacek | Austria | Never | Brother | Bernard Nivett | Chantier Norbert Sedlacek | 1995 |
| Sébastien Josse | France | Never | VMI | Finot-Conq | Kirié / Éluère | 1998 |
| Vincent Riou | France | Never | PRB 2 | Finot-Conq | Mag France | 2000 |